Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions, their acknowledgement of the importance of this legislation, and the support that seems to be forthcoming from all sides of the House.

It is complex legislation. It has a simple objective, that is, to enable a person who is the subject of a supervision decision in one EU member state but who lives in another to return home and to continue his or her supervision there. While this legislation will not affect too many people, for those it will affect, it will have a considerable impact.

A number of issues were raised in the course of the debate. We will have a further opportunity on Committee Stage. Deputy O'Callaghan raised the spectre of a no-deal Brexit. Of course, the UK would then be outside of these arrangements. My officials are actively monitoring the potential impact of Brexit. It may be the case in the event of there being a no deal - perhaps that is less likely this week than a few weeks ago - that a separate arrangement may well be required.

Deputy Sherlock referred to bail. I assure the Deputy and others that the 2017 bail Act went as far as possible within the confines of the Constitution, which clearly affords an accused person the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

An individual case was referred to at some length by Deputy Martin Kenny. It would be imprudent of me to make mention of any particular case.

This is a complex and quite voluminous Bill. We will have an opportunity to come back to it on Committee Stage. I, therefore, commend the Bill to the House.

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