Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators for their positive approach to the amendment. I am grateful we engaged on the issue because the amendment will strengthen the Bill and the implementation of human rights and assist the work of the new commission, all of which are positive. As I stated, having been on the board of the former Employment Equality Agency and a member of the second Commission on the Status of Women, this type of strengthening of human rights institutions, in so far as it can be done, is very important. That is what this process has been about. I pay tribute to the officials in my Department and the Attorney General who pulled out all the stops to ensure we were in a position to return to the House with an amendment.

It is not always possible to have this amount of work done in a short space of time and get the amendment to this stage. I was very pleased to be able to do that. I pay particular tribute to the staff of the Department of Justice and Equality for the work they have done on this. I also take this opportunity to thank Senators for their interest in this Bill and the work they have done on it over a long period.