Sean Barrett (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. I share the concerns Senator Sheahan mentioned concerning the general principle of laws restricting people's right to appeal and the right to a judicial review, but I accept what the Minister said. There were circumstances where the vacation procedures were used rather strangely I think to outsiders. We asked the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, about it yesterday and raised those concerns about the two sections. There is a certain reluctance to note that people have rights to a judicial review and rights of appeal to the Supreme Court. While appreciating all the Minister is trying to do in this legislation and how important it is, infringing on those rights is something for which I would have less than a wholehearted appetite. In general what the Minister is doing is welcomed.

I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, reported to the Minister yesterday that we said we wished we had all this in place five or six years ago and that many of the difficulties that arose since then would not have occurred.