Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, for bringing forward this Bill and all of the officials for the substantial research work that went into it. As we acknowledged on Second Stage, there has been an immense and time-consuming endeavour in compiling the contents of the legislation. I have long been an advocate of codifying our legal system, statutes and criminal law system. Several former Ministers for Justice and Equality, including John O'Donoghue, a former colleague of mine at third level, and Dermot Ahern, had a keen interest in upgrading the law. When we look through the list of obscure items of legislation dating back hundreds of years, we realise what a comprehensive job has been done. This exercise was of great academic interest to me because of my area of study in college many years ago. However, there are also significant practical advantages to this codification effort in that it will make the law more accessible to legislators, academics and the general public. A great deal of time-consuming work has been done behind the scenes and has often gone unnoticed. On Second Stage the Minister of State referred to the research facilities of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It is interesting to hear that there is such co-operation. The Bill is a positive step in an ongoing process of consolidation that offers significant benefits, both academic and practical.