Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

With regard to Senator Cox's point about the pre-confinement period being fixed at four weeks, I agree with Senators O'Toole and Kett and everyone else who has made this point. However, the Attorney General's advice is that to reduce the period of four weeks would be contrary to Article 1.3 of the relevant European directive. We are members of the European Union, from which we have derived many benefits. Much of our social progress is due to our EU membership. We have derived huge economic benefits. We are subject to European directives and cannot pick and choose among them. All I can say is that I will have the matter looked at again.