Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If it is any consolation, I often feel the Business Committee seems to be one of the most important things around here.

I thank the Members who have raised a number of issues. I thank Deputy Bacik for raising the very serious issue of gender-based violence. I fully understand and comprehend that women are exhausted, fed up, angry and frustrated. Her suggestion regarding the issue of suspended sentencing has real merit. Trying to find a vehicle to consider how best to explore that is likely to be the role of the Judicial Council and sentencing guidelines, but perhaps the Minister and I will reflect and engage with the Deputy on that.

I, too, was horrified by the "Prime Time Investigates" programme on horses. I have no difficulty with a debate being scheduled. I do not think it was flagged at the Business Committee this week.

3 o’clock

I am happy to try to arrange that.

I need to be very careful in responding to Deputy Bríd Smith. The point I was making in relation to legal processes was not in respect of any individual judge; it was in relation to a section I quoted from the legislation which talks about the role of the DPP and the time period that elapses. That constraint is certainly not in any way, shape or form linked to a judge's retirement or otherwise.

On the migration pact, I am not sure Deputy Mattie McGrath will ever be satisfied with how we decide to take this forward but we did decide last week to give more time to it this week. As a Government, we committed to providing every Member of the Dáil who wished to speak on the migration pact an opportunity to do so and that there would not be a guillotine. We provided additional time, and that debate is to happen today. We hope to bring the matter to a vote in the Dáil tomorrow.

I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for raising a logical and fair question. We hope to have the vote tomorrow. We will work out the time with the Deputy but it will probably be after lunch. Deputy Bernard Allen was a former colleague of many in this House. He served my party, the people of Cork and the people of Ireland with great distinction for 30 years. He has passed away and a number of people, including me, will wish to attend that funeral tomorrow. I hope we can have the vote later in the afternoon.

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