Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I am not asking Deputies to believe that, but that is what he said. I am making a serious point and do not mean to be flippant. There is an issue with identification and with who is entitled to make declarations. We should make it as easy as possible for people. I accept there should be a process, which needs to be right. There is always an issue about whether people are swearing a declaration or an affidavit. People wonder whether they can just go to their friendly local PC — I am not the only one in Tallaght — or whether they need to go to a commissioner for oaths or their local solicitor. It is good that the amendment in the Bill, especially in the case of non-Irish nationals, will allow the declarant to be identified by suitable documents, including a passport, etc. We need to reconsider the issue and make it easier for people to make declarations while at the same time ensuring they are who they say they are.

I always carry my ID. While I have not got the new Houses of the Oireachtas one, I presume it is coming. I tried to buy a new phone recently and produced my Houses of the Oireachtas ID, which was not acceptable as a normal form of ID. I want to let Deputies know there is no point in bringing their Houses of the Oireachtas ID to some places as they will not recognise it. While I will not name the company, it has a nice shop-front in Grafton Street.

It is important for us to take interest in this kind of legislation that will not get headlines or draw huge crowds into the Gallery. However, it concerns Government working. It is good that there is a certain consensus in the House, apart from the usual dotting of is and crossing of ts that we always get in political circles. It is good to see the level of support for the Bill and I wish the Minister of State well. I hope he can put it to bed as quickly as possible, so we can deal with the other issues, which come under the remit of the Tánaiste. I know he is working hard in this regard. I will keep tabling questions about Garda numbers in Tallaght and a new Garda station for Tallaght. I will keep the pressure on in that regard. If we have only 300 days to go, I will keep working for them.

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