Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I agree with Senator Norris in that regard. The guidelines should be made more transparent than at present. They are a mishmash and spread throughout various Acts. It would be helpful if they were brought together in booklet form.

I accept the Minister's point with regard to sending a memorandum to Government when the Bill has been enacted and putting a process in place for dealing with people — 11,000 or whatever number — who were in Ireland prior to the Supreme Court decision of 2003. The Minister has stated what might be in that memorandum but he has not put meat on those bones. Will those people be dealt with expeditiously and in a different manner from people who are coming to the country at present?

The Minister clearly has strong views regarding appeals. He calls the system I proposed a quasi-judicial body. A quasi-judicial body consisting of a nominee of the Minister, a retired member of the Judiciary and a nominee of the Human Rights Commission would be a good way of dealing with appeals. The Minister could still be the final arbiter. The current appeals system is not transparent and needs to be more so. I ask for a more transparent appeals system than that currently in operation.