Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I welcomed the Bill when it was first published and welcome its return to the Seanad. I have no difficulty with the amendments outlined today.

At the time of Mr. Justice Flood's resignation, the leader of the Fine Gael Party, Deputy Kenny, asked that this Bill be brought forward. It is regrettable that it took the Government six months to bring it forward and a further five months for its passage through the Oireachtas.

Two very important Bills are being rushed through, the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, dealing with electronic voting and the Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill, dealing with citizenship. When it wants, the Government can ensure a Bill has a speedy passage through the Oireachtas. This Bill, however, was a case of the Government dragging its feet.

This very important Bill has the support of the Opposition. I look forward to the legislation being enacted so that the tribunals will be able to adjudicate on costs and also that separate divisions will be able to investigate certain matters. The tribunal, in investigating allegations of corruption, does very important work. I look forward to seeing the results when the tribunal draws its conclusions. We all suffer from the allegations of corruption in politics and want to see politics cleaned up in the quickest possible time.

I want to see the tribunal continuing its work and this Bill, when enacted, will help it to do that.