I thank the Minister for his presence. This is an important piece of legislation. Sinn Féin did not oppose the legislation in the Dail as we recognise that key infrastructure projects need to be delivered as quickly as possible. However, we have many reservations about it that we expressed and we continue to have them, including that the Government requested that pre-legislative scrutiny on this Bill be waived and that amendments we submitted on Committee Stage in the Dail were not supported at all by the Governmen…

I wish to share my time with Senator Tully, with each of us having five minutes.

Thankfully, I have time to congratulate Armagh on its win in the Ulster Senior Football Championship on Sunday after a titanic struggle with Monaghan. It is our first title in 18 years, which is being greatly celebrated at home. I hope the GAA takes note of the continued importance of the provincial championships, not just to footballers but also to fans, because their significance seems to have been diminished in recent years in the context of the organisation of the all-Ireland championships. The provincial title…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, to delete lines 18 to 24 and substitute the following: “(2) A request for assistance under this section shall specify— (a) the topics, areas of inquiry, or matters on which the Chairman requests that evidence be taken in accordance with this Part, (b) any documents, records, or categories of documents relevant to those topics or areas of inquiry, (c) the purpose for which the evidence is requested, and (d) where the Chairman so wishes, any office holder or former office holder of …

I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 27, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 31, to delete “any such question” and substitute “regarding any such topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, line 36, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, line 38, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 7, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following: “(i) be likely to cause a specific, identifiable and substantial risk of prejudice to the sovereignty or security of the State, and only where such risk cannot reasonably be mitigated through redaction, protective measures, or partial disclosure,”. Specifically on amendment No. 8, we have repeatedly highlighted how national security has frequently been cited in Britain to restrict disclosure in legacy investigations, often leav…

I move amendment No. 9: In page 7, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “(iii) for the purposes of paragraph (i) , a refusal may not be based on a general, speculative, or unparticularised assertion of harm to State security or essential interests. The relevant head shall record in writing the precise nature of the risk relied upon and the reasons why less restrictive measures would not adequately protect that interest,”

I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, to delete lines 7 to 11 and substitute the following: “(5) A relevant head to whom a request for assistance is made shall notify the former office holder of the request. The consent in writing of the former office holder shall be required only where the former office holder demonstrates that answering the specified question would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the performance of functions lawfully exercised duri…

I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, line 9, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 7, line 17, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 7, line 19, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, line 22, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 7, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, line 34, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 7, line 38, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 7, line 39, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.