Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

This morning's debate reveals that there is much expertise available in the Oireachtas, and particularly on Senator Henry's part, that the Minister could have used in putting this Bill through the Houses. Unfortunately, in the Seanad, that opportunity was missed because we cannot have much effect here. The Bill will go through with no changes. We have mentioned the correspondence from Schizophrenia Ireland which I received a couple of days ago. We needed the opportunity to consider that and to make a real input. We can raise points from that correspondence, but that is only going through the motions because we do not have the power to change the amendments.

Schizophrenia Ireland makes the point that a new EU common position has been adopted but that the legislation is based on Directive 64/221/EEC which apparently is four decades old. The common position reflects new thinking in our society and we could have shown the lead by adopting that new position in our legislation. The Minister should consider that soon. Senator Dardis said that we must protect ourselves from people who are violent. I would have thought it much more likely that the people who might be violent or about whom we might have to worry would not display the symptoms mentioned in the legislation. Most of the violent incidents on aeroplanes or at airports, which we read about in the newspapers, are air rage incidents or involve people who have been drinking. The type of violent acts from which we must protect ourselves as a society do not involve people who are covered by the definition in the Bill. I disagree with Senator Dardis on that point.

I hope the Minister will take on board what has been said here today and reconsider the definition. I welcome the fact that an amendment was made in the other House. The current legislation is better than what was originally drafted, which is welcome. However, this area must be re-examined in the near future.