Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I simply wish to welcome the fact that the Government is accepting this important Bill. I pay tribute to my colleague, Senator O'Brien, who drafted the legislation. I was honoured to co-sponsor it. I pay tribute to the Minister of State. I have been a Member of this House for almost 14 years and I have spent most of that time as a Government representative. There are few examples of Opposition legislation that were accepted during that period. Much of the time it is down to the Minister in question, and I pay particular tribute to the Minister of State for accepting this legislation. As Senator O'Brien has stated, it needs some tweaking here and there. I accept the fact that the Minister of State will have to do that in the Lower House. Again, I thank the Minister of State and the Government for accepting the Bill.