Mary Henry (Independent)

I find the Government amendment depressing, and the Minister of State's speech profoundly depressing. The Government seems determined to carry out this action and that, but when? Senator Minihan asked for a national population register, but I asked for that over ten years ago. It is absolutely essential for screening.

The idea came to me during the debate that I would try to get the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to put this in his criminal law legislation, which is causing such chaos in the Dáil. Hundreds of amendments have been tabled to the legislation. If I ask him to include a national population register in the Bill and tell him that it will help him keep track of people in the country more easily, he may do it.