Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I support the views expressed by Senator Sean Barrett who has done the House a particular service in seeking to have a solution found to problems identified in the Gaeltacht Bill. If legal and constitutional issues arise with the legislation, it would be better to have them addressed before Committee Stage is taken on Thursday. People living in the Gaeltacht have been waiting for the Bill for a considerable period and there is no doubt they believe they are being deprived of an established franchise. It seems that Senator Barrett has done his homework pretty well on this. There is much logic in what he is saying and it is backed up by a judicial decision. The Leader might take this on board in a positive way from this side of the House and address the matter because if there are constitutional issues and if it follows that there is a constitutional challenge, that will put this Bill into abeyance for a long period.