Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very careful not to get involved in the work of this independent body. It is led by a judge. She is a very able person who has the support of two other very able people. I simply wanted to get an update on how its work was going to make sure it remained on schedule and whether it needed any further resources for the work it is doing. That is the update I got. I will certainly not be involved in any way in discussions around what the group will recommend and how it will get to those recommendations. The whole point of an independent review group is that it is independent and will make recommendations regardless of how difficult they may be to implement and so on. That is the whole point of this.

I acknowledge the bravery of members of the Women of Honour group in talking publicly about their experiences and concerns. It triggered a whole series of things that has resulted in this independent review. I hope they will engage with this judge-led process to ensure we get the benefit of their experience and concerns.

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