Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

What are the transitional arrangements between now and when the changes that have been made become law? What is the situation with those who may be currently charged with offences which may be struck down and replaced by alternative offences? Is there a transition provision in the Bill? I have been asked this by counsel actively involved in this area, so I presume it to be an important issue.

We should have a chance to tease out these issues. From the point I have made, there are clearly difficulties which have not occurred to the Minister, with two apparently occurring to him overnight. Will he agree to a sunset clause? We can agree on this Bill today but come back in the near future to sort out the anomalies that exist. He has given the commitment, as a half-way house, of having an all-party committee, but will he insert a sunset stipulation on these measures so we have a requirement to come back to legislate in the medium term?

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