Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, to the Seanad. I very much welcome the motion tabled by our colleagues, Senators Mac Conghail and van Turnhout. It is an important motion that has given rise to a debate that has reinvigorated not only the Minister, Deputy Kelly, but all of us in this House. I certainly find it reinvigorating and stimulating to hear the interesting views expressed and Members have been very much in harmony with each other. I believe everyone here is in agreement.

I welcome the Minister's particular and passionate personal commitment to delivering on this motion. He gave us a clear timeframe that is reasonable. We would all like to see this legislation come forward as soon as possible but we understand it is complex. There are quite a number of issues involved and it is important we get it right. The Minister is committed to putting the consultation paper, which has been prepared, to Government in January and then putting the matter to an Oireachtas joint committee which is appropriate. It is good that the relevant joint committees will be involved in this way. The heads of a Bill will be prepared and then perhaps they will be brought to the Seanad for debate. As Senator Ó Murchú said, that would be a useful debate to have again in this House with the heads of the Bill available to us and I think the Minister said that the legislation would be introduced in the autumn 2015. That is a reasonable timeframe and I welcome that clear commitment set out so eloquently in this House. I also welcome the fact that he has pointed out how good the Seanad debates are generally in this sort of context.