Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach informed the House earlier that the Government has reduced the number of priority Bills in this session to six. May I suggest a seventh? I do not know if the Taoiseach had the opportunity to listen to the "This Week" programme last Sunday on which Jackie Fox, a mother, spoke with compassion and eloquence about the pressing need to tackle the issue of cyberbullying. She spoke eloquently about her late beloved daughter, Nicole. The Labour Party's Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, passed Second Stage a year ago this month. The Government agreed to support the Bill as long ago as last May. There have been meetings with officials about the type of amendments the Minister for Justice and Equality wants to bring forward. I applaud that. I heard of many cases over Christmas of individuals, particularly young people, suffering harassment and bullying online. This is a matter on which we are not focusing on enough. Will the Government give priority to the Bill in question and provide some indication that it can be passed into law before the summer recess?

See this speech in context