Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a technical Bill. As we were in the last term when the Cathaoirleach was just a spokesperson on the other side of the House, the Seanad is happy to facilitate the passing of legislation. I encourage the Minister of State and the Tánaiste to initiate Bills in this House. We would be delighted to debate and legislate in respect of such Bills. Seanad Éireann has a proud record of raising issues that, although they might not necessarily get headlines, are important to many communities.

I wish the Minister of State well in his endeavours to improve the plight of people in direct provision. As a policy, direct provision should be abandoned, but we are a long way off that. While the Minister of State was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, he initiated 19 significant reports. Some were ground breaking. He is now in a position to implement a number of them. Last night, I spoke with a former Minister of State, Senator Ó Ríordáin, about a couple of issues. There was a meeting today on Traveller ethnicity. These are important issues on which I had the privilege to work with the Cathaoirleach and the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, as part of the justice committee. It would be wonderful if some of those policy positions became a reality during this Government's term, and it would be fantastic if it were this Minister of State driving them.