Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Many matters have arisen as a result of this debate but if I do not get a chance to reply to all of them, I will do so on Committee Stage. I thank everybody who contributed to the debate, which afforded us an opportunity to consider the historic nature of the work we are doing. It has been a fulfilling hour because Senators, including the Leader, have referred to old Acts which conjured up Dickensian images of how life was in earlier times. I enjoyed sharing that journey with Members of the House. While it is interesting and even entertaining to consider such historical aspects, the other side of the coin shows how harrowing life was for many citizens in those times. The 1840 Act regulating chimney-sweeps, for example, penalised a person who allowed a child or young person under the age of 21 to work as a chimney-sweep. Other speakers referred to the Children (Dangerous Performances) Act 1879.