Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

There have been instances where significant allegations were made and left hanging for years on end before they could be rebutted. That is not good. People should have the right of rebuttal and the amendment will create a much more speedy system of doing that. Adversarial as these Houses sometimes are, Members of these Houses will demand in a much more overt way that due process be complied with than in any other forum I can think of.

The notion that one will only have legal advice if one can pay for it will not come into the matter. We published the draft Bill setting out how the committee will be conducted. It will be a matter for the committee to determine in individual cases whether someone should have legal representation or not. If someone is incapable of making his or her own case, no colleague in the Oireachtas would say such a person should not be represented. Does any Senator know any colleague who would deny fair procedures like that or who would not be challenged immediately by their colleagues if they did so? I do not think that will arise.

Senator Walsh wants a more incremental approach. He wants us to undertake some reform.