Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

I have one or two comments. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for introducing the Bill. I thank Senator Bacik for taking the initiative two years ago. When the matter was last before the House I said I had raised the matter as far back as 1992 with Members of the Oireachtas because there was a huge influx of women from Somalia to England at the time. A medical professor in England raised the issue.

The issue of dual criminality was debated on Committee Stage in the Seanad and an explanation has been given on section 4. It is not possible under Irish legislation, which is different to UK legislation, to bring a prosecution. I welcome the fact we are coming to the final stage of the Bill. It is long overdue. Over 3,000 women living in the country have, unfortunately, gone through the procedure. It is important there is legislation to deal with the issue.