Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I assume it is, and I want to pay tribute to him as the outgoing Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I know he is not seeking re-election to the next Dáil, but it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge his immense contribution to public service.

I believe he has been a Member of the Oireachtas for in excess of 40 years. He has a very distinguished record representing the people of Galway East. He is a public servant of the utmost integrity and I want to acknowledge that. On behalf of his own party, the Fianna Fáil Party, I thank him for decades of service and wish him and his family all the very best in his retirement.

I wish to raise a couple of issues. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad] is due in the House later today. As I understand it, there is broad consensus, at least among the parties, to support the passage of that Bill. Is it the Government's intention in the very limited time available to pass all Stages of that Bill in the House? It is something my party would support.

Recently, Deputy O'Dea brought forward a Private Members' Bill, the Pension Fund (Prohibition of Levies) Bill 2016. The background to this is the imposition of the pension levy on private pension savings from 2011 to 2015, over which period €2.5 billion was taken out of the private pension savings of hundreds of thousands of workers and existing pensioners. The impact of that is becoming clear now for many and will become clear for others over the years ahead. Does the Tánaiste support the thrust of that Bill, which would prohibit any future Government from raiding private pension savings in a similar manner?

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