Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Shatter, is clearly one of the most effective Ministers of Justice and Equality we have ever had since the foundation of the State. He has been a most reforming Minister, enacting 21 separate pieces of legislation during the past three years. He has overseen a further five Bills which are currently before the Oireachtas and he is directly involved in drafting an additional 14 Bills. In terms of taking business through this House, there is no more hard-working, efficient and effective Minister. Most of the debates that I have been involved in on his behalf have been very objective.

Last year, 8,000 people were committed to jail because they did not pay fines. The average fine is about €200, yet the relevant legislation has never been changed despite 16 years of Fianna Fáil rule. However, the legislation is now being changed. Just like all the other legislation the Minister is introducing, it is progressive and gets to the core principle of fairness, justice and equality for all.

The Opposition has tabled this motion but it is important that a parliament is used properly. We have had many debates, including Private Members' time and questions to the Taoiseach, and the fact is that all the questions concerning the Minister, Deputy Shatter, have been answered. The real point is that we should be talking about the improvement in the economy and in unemployment which is down to about 11.8%. In addition, our tax take is up by about 5%. Notwithstanding the fact that unemployment is still high, it is the lowest it has been in the last five years.

The Minister, Deputy Shatter, is part of a working Government that has reformed the economy. The Minister has been reforming the justice system. The Government is working well and we should be talking about the economy.

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