David Norris (Independent)

I join in what my colleagues have said. I thank the Minister of State and also the officials, who were helpful and gracious during the passage of the Bill. I very much thank the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell, because he showed great respect, coming into the House, spending a long time here and teasing out the issues on Committee Stage. He did not see his way to accepting amendments but what he did was interesting. He gave his views and he gave the context within which decisions would be taken. Of course he gave some interesting and helpful information to the House, for example, the idea that if he was to give particular instances, then he might be, in law, held to those. He gave the instance of female circumcision, that if he accepted one case and gave specifically that as a reason or as a guideline, he might have half sub-Saharan Africa landing on our doorstep. That was a useful illustration and I am grateful for it. I learned a good deal during the progress of the Bill.

The Minister made what, I suppose, one could call commitments and undertakings about the particular way in which these matters would be handled. He felt he could only do so in general terms, not by accepting amendments. This Minister, despite the political reputation that he has sometimes developed, has shown himself in the past to be sensitive, humane and decent. I serve notice that those of us who tried to table amendments will be watching during the application of the Bill once it becomes law. We very much hope and expect that the Minister will live up to the humane commitments he gave to this House on Committee Stage.