Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I welcome the passing of this Bill and the support it has received from all sides of the House. That is commendable and shows the importance attached to the Bill.

I thank the Minister and the previous Minister for their work and I particularly thank the Minister's officials from the Department of Health who have worked very hard on the Bill since the first version of it was introduced as a private Members' Bill last year. It is important that we pass legislation specifically criminalising this gross violation of the rights of women and children, that there is clarity around the law on it and that we have given good consideration to the provisions of the Bill. I know it has been through the Department of Justice and Equality and the Attorney General's office and, as the Minister said, various advices have been sought from advisory counsel. I am glad to hear this and believe it is a mark that the Bill will withstand scrutiny and will be robust.

The Bill is of huge importance, not just in sending out a deterrent message or a symbolic message for members of different migrant communities here, but also for those working in the front line with such communities, for NGOs working with women and children who may be survivors of FGM and for doctors and the medical profession. I pay tribute to the many NGOs which have fed into this process and which have worked for many years on the need for legislation, including AkiDwA, the Irish Family Planning Association, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the National Women's Council and all the different organisations I named on Second Stage, all of which have fed into the Bill and made recommendations that have strengthened it at different stages. I also highlight the role of Amnesty, whose last minute briefing was very helpful to us on Committee Stage.

A great deal of work has gone into the Bill. I thank all who had an input and again thank the Minister and his officials.