Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is my first time to speak on the Bill. My colleague Clare Daly, who has departed from the Dáil, usually dealt with such legislation. I am sure she was involved in dealing with this Bill. I congratulate Deputy O'Callaghan on bringing it forward. It is time to put this matter on a statutory footing.

On the amendments, I am glad that the proposal I made in amendment No. 31 has been taken on board and that the reference to the Irish Penal Reform Trust has been removed from the relevant section. It specifically asked for that to be done, and I welcome that it was.

The Minister stated that he is open to reviewing the Act, which we will come to. If that is the case and he is open to it being reviewed on many levels in two years, I will support the amendments in this grouping.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has been mentioned and given great praise. It does tremendous work, but it worries about funding from year to year. If we are seriously interested in it and think that it such a good organisation that it should be nominated and mentioned in legislation when it does not wish to be so nominated or mentioned, perhaps we should consider the level of funding it receives in order to ensure that it continues its good work.

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