Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is in no way proposed that the making of an affidavit will become the general approach. The legislation has been designed in such a way as to minimise the need for survivors or applicants to have to relive the trauma, to the extent that is possible, and the approach that has been adopted has been to provide for an application to be made, following which the officials will look through the database to establish the records. However, we had to provide an alternative route for cases where that information is not found. The affidavit is that alternative route. Under section 37, the costs of making such an affidavit will be met. The legislation provides for costs to be covered and the cost of legal fees is built into the overall costings for the scheme because we recognise that support will be needed. Applicants under the scheme are entitled to independent legal advice before making a final determination as to whether to accept an offer and the cost of this advice is also covered by the scheme.

See this speech in context