Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hope we will soon see some further resolution of the Colombian process.

I thank colleagues who attended the briefing I organised yesterday with the Immigrant Council of Ireland on the Criminal Law (Sexual offences) Bill 2015. I thank Monica O'Connor and Nusha Yonkova for their excellent briefing. I also welcome that the Bill passed Second Stage last night without a vote and hope its progress through the Houses will be speedy. I thank the Minister for Justice and Equality for commencing the Bill in the Seanad and for indicating on Second Stage that she will be accepting amendments on Committee Stage in the Seanad and will also be tabling her own amendments in response to points raised by a number of Senators. It is very positive for the Seanad when important comprehensive legislation is initiated and amended here.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate at some point in the future on the comprehensive employment strategy for persons with disabilities, which was launched at Farmleigh on Friday last by the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, and which sets out six clear priorities for improving the situation in employment for persons with disabilities.