Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I support the amendment. I will not repeat what Senator Ulick Burke has said, but I support the points he has made. The purpose of tabling the amendment is that apart from the fact it was recommended by Ms Justice Laffoy, it should be a matter of principle and fair procedure that a body does not investigate or sponsor a Bill to investigate itself. That is the case here where the Minister for Education and Science is the Minister referred to in the legislation. For those basic reasons, which are fundamental to how anything that involves legal import is carried out, the body being investigated should not be the one to carry out the inquiry. That is the basis of our support for the amendment. I suggest it is also the reason why Ms Justice Laffoy recommended that this change should be made.

I do not see why it should cause any delay. It is up to us how we deal with matters and whether there are delays in making changes. It is a fundamental recommendation made by Ms Justice Laffoy and it is fundamental to how the Act is implemented.