Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It has been addressed somewhat, but Dr. McIntyre can repeat himself.

The Department of Justice and Equality has been open to the legislation. We have had numerous positive interactions. Obviously, we have had support across the Houses on Second Stage. That can materialise but then disappear. I believe there is a will around this.

I spoke earlier about the number of representations each political office gets on convictions. The Department of Justice and Equality is highly aware of the issue. The Department knows it started from a restrictive starting point in 2016. We were one of the last countries to introduce a spent convictions regime. We went back into all the commentary from the time the initial legislation was being brought in on spent convictions. It did not seem like anyone was sold on the restrictive regime but they had to get it in at the time. There has been an openness and a willingness to look at this right from the first tranche of legislation in terms of the single conviction rule and so on. For me, it is a question of keeping the pressure on. The committee has had hearings on spent convictions in general. There is a good chance. I hope to engage further with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and his office over the summer to bring my Bill back on Committee Stage in the Seanad in the autumn.