Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Senators have touched on the relevant reasons for doing what we are doing. Subsection (3) has the effect of repealing a part of the Bill of Rights 1688. This is the only partial appeal contained in the Bill. It arises because some provisions of the Bill of Rights may be of continuing legal relevance and, therefore, the entire Bill cannot be repealed. However, as certain elements of the Bill of Rights discriminate as between different religions, these elements are being removed. Senator Ryan is correct that it gets rid of the right of Protestants to bear arms. The Act deals with the rights of subjects and, in particular, makes provision — this will be of interest to Members — for parliamentary privilege.