Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

I am delighted to propose that the Criminal Justice (Promotion of Restorative Justice) (Amendment) Bill 2023 move to Committee Stage. I thank Deputy Quinlivan for co-signing the Bill and Professor Ian Marder of Maynooth University who did a lot of work in helping us to prepare the Bill. I also thank Leigh Daly who worked in my office and the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, OPLA, for its work in helping us along with the Bill.

Many changes to criminal justice are needed, but what better place to start than with something that is a win-win for everyone. I understand the Government is not opposing the Bill and I welcome its co-operative response.

This morning in the newspapers we learned about plans to increase capacity in our jails. Our courts face long delays. Prisons are overcrowded. They are dangerous places to work and also to be incarcerated for prisoners. This is unlikely to help people to achieve their full potential after offending. Meanwhile, victims' services are inaccessible in many places and drastically underfunded. These problems are far from unique to Ireland, but as we seek to move our country forward in health and economic systems, we must also reform criminal justice so that everyone who suffers from crime or experiences the criminal justice system is able to contribute fully to this process.

Restorative justice can help to reset our justice system and this Bill could provide advantages for victims of crime and the wider community and prevent recidivism by those who commit crime. Recidivism rates in Ireland are high, with 60% of offenders committing another offence within three years. That has to be tackled.

The mission statement of An Garda Síochána says its mission is to tackle crime and the causes of crime, but also the fear of crime. We also aspire to have a criminal justice system that will be just, make us all feel safer and meet the needs of victims of crime. I saw first hand when working in the courts, although it was on an ad hoc basis, how meeting the accused person can reduce fear and anxiety in victims. What if our system, as Professor Marder has said, sought to address and repair the damage caused by crime with a view to meeting the needs of those affected? What if all those with a stake in an offence had the opportunity to come together to explore how to make amends for what happened and stop it happening again? We collaborated to draft the Private Members' Bill to try to achieve this and I hope it will promote a process of restorative justice, which research shows helps victims to recover from crime and reduces reoffending.

Restorative justice is when dialogue takes place between a victim of crime and someone who has committed a crime against them in the presence of an independent person who is trained to prepare and manage such conversations. It can be face to face, but it does not have to be and the people involved can also invite other people to support them. The process is voluntary. No one is forced to participate and it is flexible. If one person does not wish to participate or if, for example, a direct victim or perpetrator cannot be identified, it is still possible to offer a process to the other person, with their families, other supporters or members of the community. It has existed for many years and can take place alongside cautions administered by juvenile liaison officers and trained gardaí. It can also occur in adult courts. In some counties judges can refer people to restorative justice between conviction and sentencing. The Probation Service has a restorative justice and victim services unit where trained officers can use restorative justice when people receive community or prison sentences. These services can change people's lives.

The Department of justice funded research by Professor Marder on restorative justice. Case studies showed in his research that it results in high levels of victim satisfaction, helps victims to recover from crime and supports people to stop offending. It also allows victims to be heard, to tell the person responsible how they were affected and express what they think should happen next. To people who have committed offences, this may also be the one process that does not feel designed to bring them down through stigma and punishment. Those people are more likely to pay reparations or engage with support services through restorative justice than if the matter were dealt with through the courts. The problem is that it is rarely offered. There are huge gaps around the country and low levels of use, even of the existing services. Only 400 referrals to restorative justice were made in 2022 and 700 in 2019. We want a proper system.

Funding is essential. It can help the victims of crime who get the opportunity for restorative justice. This Bill will encourages gardaí, prosecutors and judges to refer cases to explore whether this is possible. It will be the first law in Ireland to encourage referrals with no pressure to participate. While existing laws do not prevent cases being referred before conviction, this Bill would explicitly permit and encourage it. Victims would benefit. As an EU report on victims' rights noted, victims can benefit enormously from the opportunity to resolve cases outside courts. If they want to participate they can.

I will conclude there because I am sharing time with my colleagues, but I am glad the Government is supporting the Bill.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Deputy Daly and Professor Ian Marder of the criminology department in Maynooth University who helped us to draft the Bill initially. We introduced the Criminal Justice (Promotion of Restorative Justice) (Amendment) Bill 2023 in December 2023. It fulfils several objectives for the State, the victims of crime and alleged perpetrators. If enacted, I strongly believe it will be of benefit to victims of crime, perpetrators and the wider community.

Restorative justice involves a dialogue taking place between the victim of a crime and the alleged perpetrator of a crime with an independent person who is trained to prepare and manage such conversations. These conversations can be held directly or indirectly via the third party. It may not be applicable to all crime and it is a voluntary process for all parties. That is important. A broad range of research has been done, which identified benefits as regards reoffending rates for certain offenders and high satisfaction rates among victims who can express how the crime affected them and seek reparations and commitments from the alleged offender. Restorative justice can work and has worked. The European Forum for Justice showed that there was an 85% satisfaction rate among victims who engaged in restorative justice programmes. In many cases restorative justice can lead to positive outcomes.

This Bill seeks that the option of the restorative justice approach be explicitly encouraged and promoted by the courts between charge and conviction and between conviction and sentencing. The victims of crime legislation allows for discretion for judges. I hope this Bill will clarify the process, offer victims closure and avoid prison sentences by helping offenders through rehabilitation. This can be a key component of our criminal justice system. It currently remains an under-utilised resource.

A mapping exercise by Dr Ian Marder, an associate professor in criminology at Maynooth University school of law, found significant gaps in restorative justice provision. Less than 1% of cases in the State are referred to restorative justice programmes. While there was an expansion of the restorative justice programme in Munster extending these services to Cork and Kerry, the legislative framework needs to be updated.

The Bill we are debating today will encourage gardaí, prosecutors and judges to refer cases to restorative justice providers who would then be tasked with discovering whether the parties involved would like to participate. In addition, while there is currently no obstacle to cases being referred pre-conviction, this Bill will explicitly encourage and permit it, opening new referral pathways. This allows victims to benefit at an earlier stage in the criminal justice process.

During my remarks on First Stage of the Bill, I made mention of shoplifting as an example of the type of crime for which those prosecuted could avail of the restorative justice programme. Shoplifting can be an opportunistic or a more organised crime. During the contribution, I spoke about the feedback the then Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment had received from grocery stores and newsagents' representative bodies.

They spoke of their members being the victims of approximately 1,000 shoplifting incidents per week. They spoke of how, often young shoplifters feel as if they can operate with impunity. A young shoplifter may only see the item as one or two that they stole but they do not see the total cost of the impact of the crime on the business owners and their employees, who are often young people. Could restorative make a justice for these offenders and the business owners? Too often, we see so-called petty crime ignite a situation that escalates far beyond the original more minor damage, such as a broken window. Often, these situations escalate due to local tensions and a failure to hold to account those involved in such crimes. The use of restorative justice may temper these situations and ensure that any potential escalation is avoided.

Restorative justice, as I said, can be positive and for victims it also offers them the opportunity to confront the offender, outline the impact of the crime and seek apology. The alleged perpetrator may gain an understanding of how their crime has consequences for others. It may allow them to explain why they committed the offence and it may save them from a custodial sentence. Both the last and the current programmes for Government committed to restorative justice, so we hope this legislation progresses as soon as it can. As previously mentioned, engaging in a restorative justice programme can help avoid penal convictions and in some cases, lead to an avoidance of custodial sentences. As it stands, our prisons are operating beyond capacity. We have in excess of 5,000 prisoners and bed capacity for 4,600. In my own city of Limerick, overcapacity is leading to dangerous conditions for staff and inmates. The women's section of Limerick Prison is 48% over capacity, while the male section is 28% over capacity. The National Commission on Restorative Justice noted that if restorative justice was applied more widely, somewhere between 3,200 and 7,200 cases of restorative justice could take place each year in relation to adults before the courts.

It further projects that between 290 and 579 would be diverted from being given a custodial sentence, leading to a reduction of between 42 and 85 prison places per year. The estimated savings range from between €4.1 million and €8.8 million. Of course we would need to look at these figures in terms of the current data but the point is clear that restorative justice can lead to a decrease in the prison population and a saving for the taxpayer. If we maximise the use of restorative justice, as this Bill will enable us to do, it will result in not only a decrease in custodial sentences, but also significant savings for the State. Any effort that can safely avoid a prison sentence while providing justice to the victims of crime, as restorative justice does, must be considered, as we look to ease the tension and danger that overcrowded prisons can create.

A Department of justice policy paper on restorative justice notes that the use of restorative justice as a response to offending is supported by rigorous international evidence, indicating high levels of victim and offender satisfaction with the process. It also notes positive results for the support of victim recovery and offenders desisting from crime, high levels of compliance with actions that are agreed through restorative justice and strong participation from those offered the chance to engage.

In December 2021, the Council of Europe recommended making restorative justice available for all offences and at all stages of the criminal justice process. It noted that all victims and perpetrators should be given information and opportunities to determine whether restorative justice is the best option for them. Restorative justice can become an important tool in the battle against criminality. It can be an important tool in diverting people from custodial sentences and a life marked by crime. It should be given the opportunity to play a more important role in our criminal justice system. I thank the Minister of State for his attention and his consideration of this Bill.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to address Dáil Éireann on the final piece of business for this term. I thank the two Deputies who we have just heard from and also to acknowledge former Deputy, Patricia Ryan. All three were involved in introducing this Private Member's Bill in December 2023. The Bill addresses a topical issue in the administration of a fair system of justice and one which has the potential to contribute to more efficient use of prison capacity, while ensuring that the rights of victims are upheld. The stated purpose of the Bill is to clarify the processes and procedures for referrals to restorative justice schemes, with the aim of increasing their use in the criminal justice system. The Deputies anticipate that this would aid in giving victims closure and improving victim recovery and satisfaction with the justice system.

It also envisions that participation in restorative measures would mean that, in some cases, prison sentences can be avoided. It is hoped that this rehabilitative approach would lead to decreased re-offending rates and assist in freeing up our overburdened court system and prison system. Earlier this week, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, received approval from Cabinet not to oppose this Bill on Second Stage. It is well intentioned and it aligns with the programme for Government commitment to continue to roll out nationally the voluntary restorative justice programme.

Restorative justice is provided for in the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017. It is defined as being any scheme through which, with the consent of each party, a victim and an offender or alleged offender, engage with one another to resolve, with the assistance of an impartial third party, matters arising from the relevant offence, or alleged offence. In recognition of the differing needs of children, the Children Act 2001 includes tailored provisions for restorative justice for those under 18 years old. This is administered through the system of youth diversion programmes, which are overseen by An Garda Síochána.

Evidence shows that a restorative justice approach can support victims to recover from the impact of a crime, as well as serving to reduce re-offending. This is an integral part of the work of the Probation Service, which established a restorative justice and victim services unit in 2018. Restorative justice programmes are available across the country and at most stages of the criminal justice process. For some lower-tariff offences, it can mean that an offender may be diverted from prosecution, while it comes into play after a conviction for more serious offences. Restorative justice schemes are operated by the Probation Service and through several community-based organisations that receive referrals at specific points in the criminal justice process. Five community-based organisations are currently being funded to provide restorative justice programmes across the country.

The Government has supported the provision of restorative justice in budget 2025, with an additional €4 million for the Probation Service, bringing the total budget to over €60 million. A key role of the Probation Service is to support the expansion of restorative justice and crime diversion programmes, as well as step-down facilities and community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

I will now turn to the amendments that would be introduced by the Bill. As I mentioned, restorative justice in Ireland is provided for in the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, with certain tailored provisions for those under 18 in the Children Act 2001. Section 26 of the 2017 Act provides for restorative justice schemes on the basis that an offender acknowledges the basic fact of the offence, that both the victim and the offender provide free and informed consent to a restorative justice agreement and that an agreement between the parties can be taken into account by the courts in any criminal proceedings relating to the offence. This Bill would insert new sections into section 26 to create certain points throughout the criminal justice process where restorative justice schemes must be considered. The courts would be encouraged to refer cases to restorative justice schemes between a charge and a conviction. After a scheme is completed, the courts would choose to resume the proceedings or dismiss the charges, as appropriate. An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions would be given power to refer a broader selection of cases to restorative justice schemes, after a person has been charged and before prosecution begins and to review the decision to prosecute, if appropriate. The adult caution scheme currently operates in this space for summary offences, that is, offences on the minor end of the scale that carry a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment. The Bill would also prevent an offender's engagement with a restorative justice provider from being used as evidence of guilt in any later proceedings against them. I will come back to that in a moment.

It is acknowledged that restorative justice is not suitable for every offender or every victim. A broad range of research has identified clear benefits, most notably positive impacts on the re-offending rates of some offenders who in certain cases are provided with an opportunity to make good the harm they have done. The research also shows high satisfaction among victims who take part.

They are given the opportunity to express their feelings and show how the offence has affected them, as well as being able to seek reparation and commitments on future behaviour.

However, while the intention behind the Bill as proposed by the Deputies has merit, the Office of the Attorney General has relayed concerns about a misalignment with the existing policy on restorative justice. The Bill requires that an offender's participation in a restorative justice scheme will be inadmissible as evidence of guilt. This is likely to be problematic in later proceedings where an individual's character is of relevance. If this evidence cannot be used in a court, there is a risk for later criminal proceedings due to fair procedures considerations. The right to a fair hearing is rooted in the Constitution and this includes, among other things, a requirement for the courts to ensure a thorough and impartial examination of all of the available evidence.

While this inadmissibility is similar in character to the inadmissibility of evidence of participation by a child in a youth diversion programme, this is part of the tailored set of criminal justice procedures provided for in the Children Act 2001, in recognition of the specific needs of children. International and domestic law acknowledge the unique developmental needs of children, and the particular benefits a tailored rehabilitative approach has for them.

Restorative justice for children is delivered through the Garda youth diversion programme. A key requirement for inclusion in the diversion programme is the acceptance of responsibility for offending behaviour. Similarly, the 2017 Act requires offenders to acknowledge the basic facts of the offence committed, which presupposes an acceptance of guilt. The 2017 Act further provides that a restorative justice agreement may be considered in any criminal proceedings relating to the offence. In effect, participation in a scheme generally functions to decrease penalties. It is not clear how an amendment that provides for participation not to be used as evidence of guilt could sit comfortably alongside the provisions in the 2017 Act.

The Bill also provides that, without prejudice to any other way of dealing with the case, after an agreement has been reached through restorative justice a court may dismiss the charge on its merits. Dismissing a charge on its merits suggests the fundamental ingredients of the offence are in some way lacking. This is a matter of such importance to the fair administration of justice that it would be addressed by a court in the normal course of proceedings. Restorative justice does not address the offence itself. Instead, it is focused on dealing with the loss, damage and hurt caused to the victim. The existing language in the 2017 Act provides sufficient scope to a court to dismiss a charge and it should not consider reference to a case being dismissed on its merits.

The amended legislation would not provide for restorative justice schemes in circumstances other than those outlined in its provisions. It is not clear whether this would affect the operation of the schemes that take place after a conviction, whether as part of the conditions of a sentence or otherwise. The officials have advised there is a potential overlap between the provisions as drafted and the adult caution scheme, which is operated by An Garda Síochána where a prosecution for a summary of events is not in the public interest. Further consideration is required to parse the overlapping elements and make sure we are not creating space for unintended consequences.

The National Vetting Bureau Acts of 2012 to 2016 provide essential safeguards for the protection of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Acts provide for the vetting of anyone who would have access to children or vulnerable adults as part of their work or in the course of voluntary activities. The Garda National Vetting Bureau consults all of the relevant records available to it to produce a vetting disclosure, and this is used to inform employment decisions. Further consideration is required to ensure that vetting disclosures will not be affected in light of the inadmissibility provision. Our duty to safeguard the safety and welfare of children and vulnerable people is paramount.

The legal advice received from the Office of the Attorney General has also highlighted some issues of a drafting and technical nature. I am satisfied these are not insurmountable and could be satisfactorily addressed. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that work is under way in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration that will go some way towards addressing the issues the Bill sets out to tackle. In May, the Probation Service published a three-year action plan, Restorative Justice Action Plan 2025 - 2027: Repairing Harm and Empowering Voices through Restorative Justice. This has the objective of increasing restorative justice referrals and interventions by 10% in each year of the plan. The plan aims to increase the availability and access to restorative justice, enhance the effectiveness of probation interventions, reduce recidivism and create a more inclusive society.

Officials in the Department are also considering the outcome of a review of the Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill 2014, which advocates for the use of community sanctions in their own right as opposed to solely as an alternative to a custodial sentence. This would contribute to reduced reliance on our prison system. The review also seeks to strengthen the suite of restorative justice interventions.

Any change we might make to the administration of justice must fully account for the engagement of constitutional rights and our duty to children and vulnerable people. I thank the Deputies opposite for tabling the Bill. There is a worthwhile objective behind the proposals and, on the basis I have outlined, the Government will not oppose the Bill.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister of State said, this is the last Bill to be taken prior to the recess so I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Oireachtas staff for all their work over the year, and let them know I will not be taking my full ten minutes and they might get out a little bit earlier. I am happy to speak on this important Bill. I thank my colleagues Deputies Quinlivan and Daly for the work that has gone into it. I am the Sinn Féin spokesperson for community safety and youth justice, and I want to see more approaches taken to reduce crime and recidivism. Restorative justice is one of the ways we are able to achieve this.

Restorative justice brings the perpetrator of a crime face to face with the victim of that crime. It allows the victim to question the motives of the person and ask why they did it, why they chose them and whether they feel guilty for what they have done. It can be very empowering for the victim to be able to look the person in the eye and pick apart what they did and why they did it. It can also be life-altering for the person who committed the crime in the first place to have to address somebody they have hurt or harmed directly. It humanises the victim and helps a person to see the impact the crime has had on the victim.

We know restorative justice has helped to reduce reoffending. This is why the Sinn Féin Bill is so important. It aims to increase opportunities to refer somebody to restorative justice by creating obligations on justice professionals to make these referrals. It is very similar to what happens in the North. It is very important to put on the record that the Bill will not force anybody to take part in restorative justice. There is no pressure. People can make this decision themselves. It will give them the opportunity to avail of it on their journey through the justice system.

The benefit of encouraging more people to engage in restorative justice practices is that we can reduce the number of people who end up in our prisons which, as the Minister of State knows, are seriously over capacity at present. As I mentioned previously, we can also reduce the rate of recidivism. The Minister of State mentioned amending legislation with regard to children. I am happy to work with him and table amendments on young people going into restorative justice practices. If we are serious about reducing crime and making our communities safe, we need to embed restorative justice practices in our justice system. I welcome the fact the Government will not oppose the Bill.

Dr. Ian Marder has been mentioned. I spoke to him recently to get an understanding of restorative justice practices and I thank him for this. I heard the Minister of State, Dr. Marder and our spokesperson on justice, Deputy Carthy, on the radio recently. A commitment was made, which I do not think the Minister of State referenced in his statement, to a 10% increase on a yearly basis in the number of people using restorative justice. It is welcome that the target is there but we need to be a bit more ambitious. I have worked in organisations that practise restorative justice.

Even though I was not directly involved, through youth organisations I have seen at first hand the benefits it has not only for the victim of the crime, but also for the community and for the young person involved in crime. It leads to positive change.

The Minister of State mentioned youth diversion projects. That is really welcome. We had a debate earlier and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, talked about having youth justice projects right across the State. I hope the Government sticks to that commitment because it is really needed. We need targeted youth diversion projects in our areas. In my own area, we have recently had upheaval as the result of a feud. We could have done with a properly resourced youth diversion project in the area, which could have dealt with the issue. We will be looking to progress that as well.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy very much for his contribution. I know he has a great interest in this area. He has partaken in discussions on youth diversion before.

At the core of our democratic model is the idea that no policy or proposal is above criticism and that the exchange of ideas that takes place here ensures that new policy and legislation reflects the needs of our people. With that in mind, I thank the Deputies for bringing forward their proposed amendments and for their contributions. I assure them that I have listened and I agree with the underlying aim, which is to improve the way we administer restorative justice. With the right approach, it is possible to further the use of restorative justice to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system for both victims and offenders.

As noted earlier, the proposals are broadly in line with Government policy. On that basis, the Government has agreed not to oppose the Bill. However, the legal advice received from the Office of the Attorney General has highlighted some concerns. As with any new legislation, it is important to commit the necessary time and effort to ensure the provisions will actually do what it is intended and will not cause problems elsewhere or result in unintended consequences. One of the potential unintended consequences of this Bill is the possibility of issues arising with the constitutional requirement for fair procedures in the administration of the law. The provision that proof of involvement in a restorative justice scheme will not be admissible as evidence of guilt in later criminal proceedings may prove problematic where the individual's character is material to a case. If this kind of evidence is not admissible, there is a risk that the courts may not be in a position to appropriately consider all of the available evidence in order to come to a sound verdict.

The provision for inadmissibility could also affect the administration of the Garda vetting system. It is important to ensure that participation in restorative justice schemes does not adversely affect vetting disclosures in cases where this information is relevant. Ensuring the safety and well-being of the children and vulnerable adults protected by the vetting legislation must remain a top priority. At this juncture, it is unclear how the operation of restorative schemes under the Bill would affect the schemes that currently take place after a conviction, whether as part of the conditions of a sentence or otherwise. This is one of several issues that will require close attention if proposals are to be progressed.

The provision for a court to dismiss a charge on its merits after a restorative justice scheme is completed also presents a problem. Dismissing a charge on its merits implies that the essential elements of the offence are somehow deficient so this does not reflect the purpose of the schemes. Restorative justice does not address the components of an offence. Instead, it is intended to mitigate some of the loss, damage or hurt caused to the victim.

I have already outlined the Government's support for restorative justice. We have provided an extra €4 million in funding for the Probation Service this year in pursuit of this commitment, bringing its total funding to €60 million in 2025. Additional money is going towards the expansion of restorative justice and crime diversion programmes, including stepdown facilities and community-based alternatives to imprisonment. Promoting restorative justice is a priority for this Government, as set out in our programme for Government. Earlier, I mentioned some of the progress we have made so far. We are committed to ensuring that this continues apace. The Bill broadly aligns with Government policy in this area. I anticipate further discussion and debate on this subject in the future.

I again offer my appreciation to the Deputies for submitting their proposals to the Dáil for this evening's debate. As this is the last piece of business before the summer recess, like previous speakers I will take the opportunity, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government and the Fianna Fáil Party, to thank the Ceann Comhairle and all of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas for their sterling work. We look forward to coming back duly refreshed after the summer recess. I also thank the staff of the Department of justice, to which I am assigned, for their commitment to the work assigned to us. I also thank the staff in my own constituency office for their dedication and for ensuring we provide a fantastic service to my constituents in County Limerick.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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I will briefly wrap up. I would like to be associated with all the comments made regarding the staff, the Ceann Comhairle, the Department of justice and my own party. I have a couple of brief points to make. There should be very few limits, if any, on restorative justice. I see what the Minister of State is saying about dismissing cases but cases are commonly dismissed under the probation Act anyway. The Minister of State also mentioned that this could affect Garda vetting. There was a Garda vetting Bill that proposed something like the Safe Pass, which would protect children and vulnerable adults and also make the system a bit more flexible. I thank the Government for its support. Let us have a further debate when the Bill gets to Committee Stage. We can do something that will provide referral pathways at every point in the criminal justice system, have such referrals happen as often as possible and provide the resources and funding to improve the system in its totality.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Minister. I mean Deputy. You were nearly elevated before September.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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He would not have minded.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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As we come to the end of the current Dáil session and head into the summer recess, I want to personally thank the Deputies for their co-operation, which I trust and hope will continue when we return in September. On behalf of all the Members, I thank Mr. Peter Finnegan and his team for their support and hard work. I further thank the Superintendent and his team of ushers, who keep us safe, and the catering team, who keep us fed and watered. I thank my own staff, both in my office here and at local level, for their valuable support and assistance over the past six months and before. I hope everybody has a very productive summer. I look forward to seeing you all in September, refreshed and ready to go.