Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I too would like to extend my sympathies to the families of the crew of R116, along with the Haughey family. Mrs. Haughey was a formidable lady, a daughter of a Taoiseach, a wife of a Taoiseach and in her own right made a contribution to Irish life and society. I extend my sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Martin McGuinness, who made an extraordinary journey in his time on this planet.

I ask the Leader to organise a debate about the ongoing scandal of Brazilian beef and the concern among Irish farmers around this issue that could affect them so directly.

I also raise with the Leader the civil rights issue for members of the deaf community and the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill that we have spoken about many times in this House. We have put the House on notice that we will amend the Order of Business for the last week of March, which is next week, and put the Bill through Committee and Remaining Stages. We asked the Government to provide its amendments by 15 March. Those amendments did not arrive on 15 March but I understand that the amendments are on the Minister's desk. He has them. I would be anxious to sit down with the Minister in advance of Committee Stage next week to make sure that the amendments are workable, make the Bill better and do not take away from the purpose of the Bill. We will give those members of the deaf community their rights.

According to the confidence and supply agreement, there is supposed to be ten weeks between Second Stage and Committee Stage. We have gone through all of the necessary processes and have been to the justice committee. The Bill has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny and we are now awaiting Committee Stage which, with the agreement of this House, will happen next week. I do not wish to have an amendment on the day and then have to take Committee Stage and put all of those amendments through the process in the one day. That is not the way we should do it. Working with the Minister and the Leader, I hope that we will be able to get this Bill through the House in this session.