Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the passage of the Bill and add my voice to that of Senator Regan in my party's welcome for it. We decided in the Labour Party not to table amendments to it. However, I raised a number of concerns on Second Stage which the Minister of State indicated he would take on board.

It is welcome that we are streamlining arbitration procedures. It is extremely important that we would generate the notion of Dublin as a hub for international arbitration. On the previous occasion I raised a concern expressed by some arbitration practitioners that "if ain't broke, don't fix it", but I believe, on balance, there is a strong argument to be made for implementing and applying this international model here across arbitrations. I hope there will be sufficient protections in this legislation for the consumer in terms of the small contracts to which arbitration will also be applied from now on. I welcome the Bill. I thank the Minister of State for his time in dealing with it.