John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of Senator Ivana Bacik that we put pressure on the Minister for Justice and Equality to progress the Spent Convictions Bill 2012. This Bill seems to have come to a standstill while the Government is considering amendments; three years have passed. I cite the example of a person who was 17 years old 18 years ago and was involved in a brawl at a disco. He is now 35 years of age and because he has a conviction for what I would consider to be a simple offence, he cannot get house insurance. That is just one simple example of the current situation. Until such time as the Bill is progressed, people like him and many others will be victims. I call on the Leader to put pressure on the Minister to progress this legislation. I know she wants to do so but I do not know whether it is a case that civil servants are holding up the show. There are victims as a result of inaction.