Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment to the Department of Justice and Equality. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on justice I very much look forward to working with him. I know he has a deep interest and life experience in terms of working in law. It is a natural bedfellow in terms of suitability for the role. The Department of Justice and Equality has faced challenges in recent years. The Minister is taking over a complex, challenging and difficult Department but I have no doubt that he will leave it in a far better state than he found it. We wish him well and look forward to working with him in achieving that.

There has been a narrative about bail and repeat offenders in the public domain. There has been a chorus calling for something to be done about it. While the legislation is not the panacea to resolve all of the issues pertaining to bail, I believe it is significant and a positive incremental step in the right direction. I welcome it. It would be remiss not to pay tribute to the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, for initiating this Bill.

I thank my colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party and in particular their spokesperson on justice, Senator Clifford-Lee, and other colleagues for their co-operation on this Bill. Members understand and recognise the necessity for this legislation. I believe it is balanced and appropriate. Like all legislation it is evolving. If it needs to be altered, amended or change, that will happen.

I wish Deputy Flanagan well in the Department of Justice and Equality. We look forward to working with him.