Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Reilly's question about the report on familicide and homicide was first. The justice plan for 2021 commits to publishing the independent research on familicide and domestic homicide reviews, which has been commissioned by the Department of Justice as an important first step in delivering on the programme for Government's commitment to legislate to introduce domestic homicide reviews. This independent study is looking at international best practice in the conduct of domestic homicide reviews with a view to making recommendations on their application in this jurisdiction. It is important to stress that the study is independent of the Department, which is not involved in the work of the study nor is it a member of the advisory group established to support the study.

It is understood that the focus of the study is now on the fair procedures part of the process, which involves allowing any persons or organisations that might be affected by the contents of the draft report, including the families concerned, to be given an opportunity to reply. Invariably, this part of the process can take time, as it involves engaging with multiple entities. However, it is an essential part of the process and must be completed before the report can be finalised. I have been informed that the report is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks and that it will be subsequently published with any recommendations made being considered as a priority. We will keep in touch with the Deputy in relation to it.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of INIS, as did other Deputies. The Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, in an effort to be helpful just said to me that it is an international phenomenon and there are challenges regarding it. I will come back with a more comprehensive reply to the Deputy. It is not an issue that is being deliberately orchestrated by the Government or the officials or anything like that. There is an issue that does not just relate to this country. ICT systems are being updated. The best thing for me to do would be to articulate the concerns of Deputies and to come back with a comprehensive reply on the matter.

At some stage Deputy Boyd Barrett might reconcile for me what he said earlier about a human rights prism. He is an advocate of zero Covid and I do not know how we reconcile it with human rights considerations. I get opposite ends of the arguments at different times during the pandemic. I just make that point in passing.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised an issue, but I am not sure how far we can take this.

See this speech in context