Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I support my colleague, Senator Coffey. His sentiments are being expressed by Senator Dearey in a most unfavourable manner. It is not what Senator Coffey meant at all. They are not being expressed properly.

My party made this suggestion regarding six months or 12 months in the House and we were laughed out of court. We were opposed by most Members on the Government side, except some sensible Senators, such as Senators O'Donovan and Ormonde, who saw what we were looking for, namely a lead-in period. It was not being entertained at all by the Minister and, indeed, some other colleagues in the other House. I am glad we have gone some way in addressing this problem. I welcome the fact that there is a six-month lead-in period. I would like it to be 12 months but I welcome the fact it is six months and that it has been acknowledged that what we on this side of the House were saying months ago was the correct position to adopt. I am glad the Minister has come around to that way of thinking as well.