Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Quinn for his time and incredible hard work for bringing this Bill to the House. Like Senator White, words fail me. I am not a lawyer and, to be honest, legal speak drives me crazy because I can never understand it. Can the Minister of State imagine if he were one of those people in the Gallery? People kill for a variety of reasons, some for monetary gain or to force the division of assets and the realisation of property to release equity.

The term “no-brainer” comes to mind this evening. Senators Mulcahy and Higgins were so eloquent and I am sure the Attorney General is a brilliant woman whose advice I respect. Why are we here in this Seanad if we cannot accept this Bill, however? I am looking forward to the Bill on domestic violence but Senator Quinn has done the work and we need to push this through.

The gift of human life is a rare and wonderful thing. Somebody’s life was stolen. The last time this law was around the blocks I was five years of age. I am now 54 years of age and we are looking for a simple amendment to the Succession Act 1965. Where are all the other Members? Our failure to move to close off this weakness in the law gives rise to a grossly unjust and perverted incentive for a joint tenant with malicious intent to kill another joint tenant. How someone who has taken another human being’s life - somebody’s Mummy away - can profit from it is beyond me. Senator White is correct. Why are we here? If the Government cannot support this Bill to progress to the next Stage, will the Minister of State make it the highest priority on the legislative programme?