Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that this Bill is being brought forward, however belatedly. I would like to know the reasons for the delay. Why did we have to wait until action was taken by the EU to bring this legislation before the House? Much other legislation has obviously been prioritised, including legislation which in my view is not as important as this. I include in this the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill and many other items of legislation. Surely, given the serious crash in our economy, the manner in which it happened and the subsequent loss of faith in systems of governance in financial and political institutions, this kind of Bill should take priority. We are seeing a loss of faith and a lack of accountability in the HSE at present, and in other areas of public life.

This Bill's Title refers to money laundering and terrorist financing and I note terrorism has been brought into a new realm in recent weeks by the Minister's colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, when he decided to label some of the members of the Rural Independent Group as "road traffic terrorists". It was an appalling vista-----

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