Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs back to a familiar setting for her. This is the first opportunity I have had to wish her will in her important Ministry

This is a Seanad Bill which as been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 118, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. The Minister will explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil and this will be looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendments to the Seanad. For Senators' convenience, I have arranged for the printing and circulation of the amendments. There are also four Government amendments to the Bill as passed by the Dáil. If the House agrees, I propose to allow the Minister, first, to explain the amendments made by the Dáil to the Bill and when this is completed, we can deal with the Government amendments. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I propose seven groupings based on the subject matter of the 20 amendments made by the Dáil to the Bill. Each Senator may speak once on each group. I remind Members that the only matter that may be discussed is the amendments made by the Dáil. I draw their attention to a typographical error in amendment No. 16 from the Dáil, which should read "in page 74" rather than "in page 75". I call the Minister to speak on the subject matter of the amendments in group 1.