Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I, too, commend Senator Quinn for initiating this Bill. It is overdue and I am glad he had the courage and, indeed, the time to do it. I also welcome the Minister's support for the Bill even if he intends to put down many amendments or, perhaps, introduce another Bill. The fact that the Minister will not oppose the Bill is a great compliment to Senator Quinn and the work he put into the Bill.

It is time this loophole was closed and the Minister obviously accepts that. The way it has been dealt with has caused many problems. In 1956 a number of people were extremely critical of this section of the Bill. They included Micheál Ó Moráin, Stephen Barrett and Frank Aitken. Stephen Barrett said that if something was not done about it, many mischievous deeds could occur. The interpretation of "Irish association" was so wide that he described it as a chasm.