Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

I am sure the Acting Chairman will allow me equal flexibility.

Let me return to the amendments that I tabled. I thank the Minister for his clarification on amendment No. 2 in respect of permission to reside in the State. When one is in opposition, one does not have the same resources as Members on the Government side. It is not as easy to word amendments perfectly on this side. We do not have the services of the parliamentary draftsman available. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, has had plenty of experience of this over the years.

I will turn to amendment No. 5. My intention is as was outlined. I accept the point the Minister made on dual criminality. I do not necessarily agree with it but I see where he is coming from. In fairness to him, he has reviewed this on a number of occasions. However, I am providing him with an opportunity to put a safety net in place. There is far greater flexibility to deal with this issue in regard to our immigration law. Rather than considering it in isolation as a matter of criminal law, we have an avenue allowing us to put the safety net in place. Consistently, people are saying girls are being brought from Ireland back to-----

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