Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I will not hold up the House. An obvious example of what I mean is the Offences against the Person Act, which deals with the abortion issue. Until we are ready to legislate for this ourselves post independence, that legislation will stay on the Statute Book. This raises issues which are anything but simple, straightforward or uncontroversial. Some pre-1922 legislation presents us with knotty issues with which we must deal.

Another point implicit in what has been done is that certain foundations and charities value their legislative base, even though it may arise from pre-independence legislation. Out of respect for them and the ethos of their traditions, such Acts should not necessarily be repealed.