Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I hope I get as honest a backing as I gave to this Bill. It is important to acknowledge the role Senator Leyden and the Leader have played in facilitating this important Bill. It is important from three points of view. First, people are wealthier and have assets they would not have had in the past and, second, people are more mobile and on average move every 11 years. There is potential for wills to get mislaid. A third reason is that people live longer and can outlive their solicitor and that can cause problems. The three goods reasons for the Bill centre around wealth, mobility and longevity. It is great to see Senator Leyden following in the footsteps of former Deputy Alan Shatter who led the way in family law matters by having Private Members' Bills accepted in the Dáil. That is the way it should be.

I contend that the Succession Act is out of date in the context of the increased affluence in the country and the economic and social changes, an issue I will highlight in my pre-nuptial agreements Bill which is similar to the Bill in terms of the background. I was not aware the Minister of State's father was involved in that Act.

People should make a will. I know of two people who died as a result of no will being made. The father died intestate. There was a division in the family.