Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will honour a commitment to meet persons (details supplied) on 6 May 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16161/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I agreed to meet two members of this family and their legal representatives together with two public representatives to discuss the legal representation of the family at the Morris tribunal. The meeting was arranged for the afternoon of 6 May. However, that morning I learned that the family would not be accompanied by its legal representatives and also that it proposed to have two other persons present at the meeting.

I was informed that the family in question instructed its lawyers not to attend the meeting unless I was prepared to agree to pay the costs of the family's legal representation at the tribunal. I have made my position on this matter clear on a number of occasions. I saw no point in having a meeting without its lawyers present.

I remain prepared to meet the two members of the family on the basis that we agreed, that is, accompanied by their lawyers and two public representatives.