Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The present practice is a letter is sent by registered post giving 21 days notice to the complainant. It is an administrative practice, not a statutory practice. Before the rights commissioners would exercise this power, they would have to satisfy themselves that the complainant has not pursued the complaint within the period of one year and that is how they do it. It is not dissimilar to what the Senators propose but it is an administrative practice and that is the way it should be. It is not a legal requirement.