Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a personal note, in a former life I worked in the jewellery business for ten years. My sister is a jeweller. The Assay Office plays such an important role in the life of the jewellery business. I have considered the Bill in detail and spoken to members of Retail Jewellers of Ireland, all of whom are very happy with the Bill which is essential. There are gold and silver and different levels of fineness such as nine-carat and 18-carat gold, but the new metal palladium which is used mostly in men's wedding rings has not yet been recognised in legislation. Therefore, the Bill is very important and I am supportive of it from a personal point of view.