I move amendment No. 1: 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 …

All of our amendments were drafted in consultation with the Omagh families and their representatives. That is where we are coming from. They should be at the heart of this legislation. It is disappointing that the Minister did not take the time to meet them before this Bill was drafted. Under this amendment, the procedure would preserve fair notice for the witness and give him or her the fair notice that he or she needs. It stops rehearsed or scripted answers and allows for a flow of conversation, which is more tra…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, line 27, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 3: In page 6, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 4: 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. 5: In page 6, line 36, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

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

I move amendment No. 7: 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,”. Sinn Féin has repeatedly highlighted how national security has frequently been cited in Britain to restrict disclosure in legacy investigations, often leaving families without full a…

I move amendment No. 8: In page 7, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(iv) 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. 9: 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 durin…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, line 9, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, line 17, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 7, line 19, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 7, line 22, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, line 29, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 15: In page 7, line 34, to delete “question” and substitute “topic, area of inquiry or matter”.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, line 38, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 7, line 39, to delete “questions” and substitute “topics, area of inquiry or matters”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 8, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “Written statements from office holders and former office holders 6. (1) This section applies where a relevant head has, under section 5 , acceded in whole or in part to a request for assistance for the taking of evidence from an office holder or former office holder of a designated State body. (2) Before any oral evidence is taken in accordance with sections 9 , 10 and 11 , the relevant head shall ensure that the office holder or …

I move amendment No. 19: In page 8, to delete lines 31 to 33 and substitute the following: “(5) The Minister shall notify the former holder of ministerial office of the request. The consent in writing of the former holder of ministerial office shall be required only where that person demonstrates that acceding to the request would give rise to a substantial and objectively reasonable risk of prejudice to their legal rights or to the lawful performance of functions exercised during their tenure. Any refusal to conse…