Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important to have the debate and to use our parliamentary time to address any of the confusion that exists. This is a very complex area as the Minister of State has said and it is important that we wholesomely engage. Clearly, there is confusion in the process when one has Government backbenchers seeking to amend the Bill. The spirit in which we want to see the Bill progress is shared and the Minister of State should not leave here today having left a doubt that this is a component of us fulfilling an incremental target in respect of the UN convention for people with disabilities. That is what we are trying to do. For some people it is as clear as mud while for others it is complex. As such, we should use parliamentary time, "parler" being French for talking it out. We need to talk this out so that we are clear for everybody about the spirit of the legislation and, if need be, the Minister of State must be open in the Seanad where aspects of the Bill are found not to fulfil the spirit in which she set out. I do not dispute that the Minister of State does that here today. Indeed, I have the highest expectation that she will do everything possible to ensure the legislation supports and is in the interests of the people who have grave concerns in this area.

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