Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

-----I know the grandparents particularly well. While the issues identified do not appear to represent insurmountable barriers, it is clear that whatever is decided will require careful consideration, comprehensive interdepartmental consultation and discussion among Government agencies. The families accepted that this was going to take time and I was very clear in my comments. When one is at this a long time, one knows that teasing out legislative issues takes time and that we are always overpromising and underdelivering. My policy is to try to be kind to people by explaining why it takes time and the natural length of time these things take. It is not an excuse for doing nothing but rather so that people do not get unrealistic expectations. I have also undertaken to consider this issue to see whether it may be resolved and bring in legislative change to the Civil Registration Act to address this issue to their satisfaction. The families have been very reasonable. When they met the registrar and heard about all the complexities, they took them on board, and I believe they were willing to accept something less than the full registration of the death of every Irish citizen abroad, which is impracticable. We are moving forward and perhaps the best thing we could agree today is that some time in the autumn, either through promotion in the House or on foot of a request for me to address an Adjournment matter, I will come to the House to give an update of where we are.