Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I pay tribute to and recognise the justice committee for the huge amount of legislation it has to deal with. I get a sense of it from the number of Government memos that come from different Departments. The number that come from that Department is enormous. It is a very legislation-heavy Department and that then, of course, lands at the committee. I do not know what the rules are regarding the eight-week deadline or whether there is a mechanism for seeking an extension. I would not like it to be an across-the-board extension but perhaps there should be some mechanism for the committee to request an extension, where it is appropriate or where the workload is just too heavy.

Senator Ward and Deputy Leddin talked about resources for Oireachtas committees. It is correct to say it is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. It is not just a matter for that commission, however, because it gets its money from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, which is at the centre of government. I have influence over the Minister in that Department, having appointed him, so if there are proposals from the commission for more technical expertise, or additional committee staff and resources, I would like to see them. It is certainly something that I am very open to. We have not been found wanting. When I was a backbencher and not in government, the idea of an office of a parliamentary legal adviser was being conceived. The idea of pre-legislative scrutiny was being promoted by people like me. A parliamentary budget office and a budget oversight committee were all ideas.

We made them happen. I am very open to additional resources and additional ideas that would come from the commission. I want to be across any proposals the commission may have in that regard.

When it comes to where gardaí are deployed, as members are aware, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and should be for lots of very good reasons. We have an open conversation with the Garda Commissioner on that, because as Garda numbers increase we need to make sure they go to the areas that need them most. It is certainly an issue in my constituency in west Dublin. Our population has grown a lot and Garda numbers have not. I know that is replicated in some other parts of the country too.

On the issues raised by Deputy McGuinness about attracting people into politics, that is something we should have a conversation about because we do need to recruit good people into politics. I know issues arise all the time, ranging from how it impacts on people's careers, and whether they can get leave. We need to do some work on that, but I am not sure how best to do it.

The legislation around politically exposed people is there for good reasons. It is transparency legislation and anti-corruption legislation. It is often very difficult where it impacts on family and friends. Some of my family and friends say that when they set up a bank account, they get asked a lot of questions about how they know me. It is all a bit odd because while I made a decision to get involved in politics, they did not. I do not have any complaints about how it impacts on us, but the way it impacts on our families, friends and associates is a bit unfair. It is almost like suspicion by association. I sympathise with Deputy McGuinness’s remarks in that regard.

On the hate speech legislation, to be honest, from my point of view it is a long time coming. I do not think it is being rushed at all. This legislation has been in development and has been discussed and debated. It has been put out to consultation for years. I know the Seanad voted to continue with the Bill and not to delay it. I do not think that putting it off for three months, six months or to Christmas actually means that issues that need to be teased out will be teased out any quicker. I think it would be better to tease them out now. I often find that when you move the deadline for something, it does not necessarily result in greater consideration. If you move the deadline by six months, nothing happens for four months, and it is only when you are up against the deadline again that people resume their work. I think the issue should be teased out, ideally this side of the summer recess.