Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support amendment No. 7 as opposed to that put forward by Senator Zappone. I do so because I am of the view that the amendment will be accepted in both Houses. On that basis, I wish to support the Minister of State. We fought hard to get a two-year review period put in place, achieve adherence to international best practice and the various other goals to which amendment No. 1 refers. However, I am a realist. The international best practice that suits the current Government may not suit the Government that succeeds it and such practice may not be what we will need in the future. The amendment brought forward by the Minister of State will tie us into carrying out a review two years from now and will oblige the Minister, not later than 12 months after the Act's commencement, to make a report to each House of the Oireachtas. That does not happen at present and we do not have factual evidence - to the degree that we would want it - available to us. I support the Minister of State in respect of amendment No. 7 and I deeply regret being obliged to go against amendment No. 1 in the name of Senator Zappone and others.