Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

This is the advantage of being legislators. We have a responsibility, in co-operation with the Government, to introduce legislation but we have a right to introduce our own when we see a shortfall. This has been done in the past by other Members of the House in connection with important Bills.

The bones of this Bill are set out in the Council of Europe's convention but I have added other documentation and have received helpful advice and information from a Roscommon solicitor involved in this area. There is a general feeling in the legal profession that there should be a central registration office. The General Register Office is located in Roscommon and the Land Registry office will also be located there. Roscommon is the centre of Ireland and in this case it will be the centre of registration of people's last will and testament. I hope many people will benefit when the Bill is enacted by the Government or by way of a Private Members' Bill, with the support of the Government.