Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the Minister’s response lacks any definitive dates on when people can expect this Act to come into being. At this stage, and given the fact the 2015 Act has been passed and the Bills had to be rushed through the Houses, it is sad that people cannot have a date they can work towards to ensure they can be ready for the Act coming into being. This Act will make a huge difference to people. The Minister and I can make mistakes. We are allowed to do so and to make our own decisions in relation those mistakes, but these people are not. They should be recognised as having capacity to do so. The UN has said they should and our Constitution probably also states they should. We need to step up and make that happen.

I note that in his response the mentioned that he recently commenced a specific provision of the 2022 Act providing for an increase in the number of judges. Have they been appointed? Are they in place yet? That will obviously be a delay and appointing people and staff is probably the main delay at the moment. This Act was known about. People have known for years that this Act was coming in. When the legislation was going through this House, it was rushed through and the Minister said we had to get it done. All these organisations have had to sit on their hands since, waiting for the commencement notice or whatever to be made. That is simply wrong.

Will the Minister address whether all sections of the Act will be implemented and commenced at the same time? We have seen across all Departments that large parts of Acts that have been rushed through and passed, sit uncommenced for years. That is simply wrong and I am afraid it could happen with this Act as well.

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