Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Henry's amendment. We will not get a chance for another 15 or 20 years to get the general statutory provision for civil registration right. As I said earlier, rather than having civil registration added at regular intervals by way of social welfare Bills that come before these Houses, it would be sensible to provide for it on a statutory basis. I concur with Senator Henry's remarks.

The Minister referred to the fact that she will establish two panels. When does she expect the panels to be established and to be up and running? What precisely will they do? The members of the advisory body set out by Senator Henry encompass all the interested parties in this matter. This would not register with many people but those who are interested are experts and perform a public service, whether they are involved in the GRO or in these organisations, and we should recognise their work in a statutory format. I can point to countless examples in other legislation where Ministers have put such bodies on a statutory footing and they are totally independent of Government.

This amendment has merit. The Minister might not accept it on Committee Stage but she could table her own amendment on Report Stage. Given the work these bodies do and the service they provide, they should be recognised in legislation. There is no reason why we should not take this route.