The main purpose for bringing this legislation before the House is to clarify, modernise and reform the law on criminal insanity and fitness to be tried to bring it into line with the jurisprudence of the European Convention on Human Rights. As Members of this House will probably be aware, a Bill to give effect to the convention in Irish law in line with an obligation under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has reached Committee Stage in the other House. The Bill before this House, in addition to dealing with some general issues, contains more detailed provisions on substantive matters such as fitness to plead, a statutory definition of criminal insanity, a new verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity – instead of the older verdict of guilty but insane – and a new plea of guilty but with diminished responsibility in cases of murder.