Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I have a question and an observation for the Minister. I am watching the Twitter feed and Facebook and the main issue for people is the sealing of the archive for 30 years. Obviously, Tusla is a big issue, which is why we are pressing this amendment. If the sealing of the archive falls under another legislative measure, the 2004 Act, and if it is something that the Minister does not fully agree with, should he not have attempted to amend that Act to stop that happening? If he has not attempted to amend it or if that is not appropriate, will he explain that? If it is possible to amend it, could the Minister not take up my suggestion and seek to push the report back and then bring in an amendment to the 2004 Act before the report is in his possession and he must seal it?

I wish to make an observation on this process. There is no Deputy from the Government parties to speak in defence of this Bill. The Minister is being thrown under the bus by the lot of them. He has been left on his own. I am particularly amazed and a little disgusted, to be honest, that no female Deputy from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Green Party had the courage to come here today and defend this legislation.

See this speech in context