Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

A number of my constituents will benefit from this Bill. I pay tribute to John O'Meara for going to the Supreme Court and acknowledge the circumstances in which he went to it. I know the Minister, Deputy Calleary, will take on board what the Members have said today. I sympathise with Deputy Coppinger as well. It is awful. I acknowledge the officials in the Department under the Minister who brought this Bill forward. We would have liked to have had it quicker, but bringing forward a Bill this quickly after a major constitutional case is tremendous work. This Bill will be of significant benefit overall to many families throughout the country.

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