Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The working group considering these matters is to report by 31 May. Receipt of that report will allow for the drafting of the heads of the Bill to be undertaken. We must have this legislation in place by the end of the year, so this might be something for the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality to consider. I totally agree with the Deputy that this is a topic for consideration by the entire House. We certainly need to get the views of everyone on it. It is a central issue. People were extraordinarily upset, understandably, at the prospect of that withdrawal of service. We saw how serious the situation was and the huge consequences that would have arisen if that had gone ahead. The working group will report by 31 May.

See this speech in context