Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

We must have due regard to what Senators Power and Zappone are saying. If such a statement was made in October 2011 and if they justifiably feel that no progress has been made on that issue, then I would like to assure them that I will speak to the Minister and that we need to make haste on it. I genuinely have regard to the statements that have been made.

As this is a cross-bench issue and affects all of us as a society, I hope that the Senators' views would have a major influence in the process and I hope that the Department would take seriously the views that have been expressed here today. I will talk directly with the Minister and try to move the process along.