Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will leave it at that.

I am very much aware this is the last day of the sitting of this House for 2012 and there are a number of matters I wanted to bring to the attention of the House with regard to positive measures the House has engaged in over the past 12 months. I particularly sought measures that had achieved, in the main, all-party support. First, I want to mention the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011. I genuinely believe that measure will not only change the political landscape but will change the political landscape with regard to the participation of women in Irish politics. I also want to mention the Personal Insolvency Bill. I know the Opposition has questioned aspects of that Bill, as indeed have members of the Government, and sought changes, which in the main were listened to and ceded to. I believe the personal insolvency legislation will be a leading measure in dealing with the level of personal debt and insolvency in this country in future years. With regard to children, it is noteworthy that, in the main, all of the measures relating to children that have come before this House have received all-party support in the past 12 months. In particular, there was general consensus around the children's referendum, legislation relating to vetting and legislation relating to the withholding of information.