Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Any issue around the treatment of different categories of offences or offenders should be debated under the spent convictions Bill. That is the correct legislation under which to debate the matter, not the Taxi Regulation Bill. Obviously, this is a serious matter, but there is a broader issue. The Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill has been passed by the Seanad and is being dealt with in the Dáil and the matter raised could be discussed during that debate. I note that Deputy Dessie Ellis's party did not table any amendment on this topic for debate in the Seanad on the legislation. There was no reference to the Good Friday Agreement in that context or any other related areas. The Deputy might examine the matter.