Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I forgot to announce that because of a typographical error, there is a superfluous "and" on page 41, at the end of line 15. In accordance with Standing Order 121, I am requesting the Cathaoirleach to direct the Clerk to make the necessary correction.

I sincerely thank Senators Brian Hayes, Ryan and Walsh for their very kind comments. As I stated in the course of my reply, the Bill reflects a number of excellent suggestions from Fine Gael and Labour Party Senators and is much improved as a result. It demonstrates that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, expert though it may be, does not have a monopoly on wisdom in these matters and that when one brings common sense to bear, one invariably gets a better result.

On the serious point raised by Senator Brian Hayes, I wish to inform the House that it is intended to ask the Office of the Attorney General to prepare a restatement of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 to incorporate this legislation in order that we will have a single consolidated statement of law for ease of reference, not only by practitioners but by the general public and people working in the field.

I thank the Seanad for its valuable contribution, without which this Bill would be much less effective.