Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

One member of the family decided to sell the farm and another member did not react well. When the land was purchased by a third party, he was shot dead. His brother escaped with his life by a whisker. The person who carried out the shooting then committed suicide. That is the stark reality of not making a will. Everyone owes it to his or her family to make a will. There should be no ambiguity about this. Everyone should make a will.

Dealing with a death, especially a sudden death, is traumatic and the last thing a family needs is to be torn asunder afterwards, as has happened in a village in Kilkenny where a pub is closed. The reason it is closed is that the deceased died without making a will and there is chaos with nephews and nieces fighting over it. That should not happen but it does. People should make a will. I would go so far as to say it should be mandatory. As soon as one owns any kind of property or reaches a certain age, one should make a will.

I urge the Minister of State to ensure this Bill is put through the other House quickly in the new term and is enacted without delay. I hope those who have wills made can record them retrospectively in the central register because it makes great sense.