Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the Senators in the House. I am delighted to be here again and to have been able to achieve consensus on this Bill. I commend Senator Mark Daly for his magnificent work. I also thank and commend members of the deaf community for all of the work put into achieving this consensus.

It is important that I, as Minister of State, recognise the value of the work of the Seanad in respect of this issue, but also in respect of the broader issues in society. We had a debate a number of years ago on the abolition of the Seanad. When I was in opposition, I strongly supported the Senators in that campaign. One of the reasons I supported them was because of work such as we are doing today. It is very important work for Irish society and, in this context, it is great work for the deaf community.

Senator Mark Daly has tabled a small number of amendments which do not reflect the Government amendments. I hope that during the debate we will be able to reach agreement on these. I have an open mind on these issues and I want to listen to what the Senator and others have to say. I will be very open to accepting the consensus opinion of the House on each of these points.

I have difficulty in principle with amendment No. 9. If Senator Mark Daly is happy to accept my amendments instead, amendments Nos. 10 and 11, I will be able to reciprocate on the other issues on which we have slightly different approaches. The amendments we are now discussing are all technical. They include an amendment of the Title of the Bill to reflect other amendments which we will discuss this afternoon, and the deletion of definitions of words or phrases which will no longer form part of this Bill and are therefore unnecessary. The rule, which is a sensible one, is that definitions must relate to words and phrases which are used in the Act and which must be defined for clarity.

Other amendments include a regulation-making power which relates to the definition of a public body in section 2, so that regulations can be made to include new public bodies, if necessary and if desired, in respect of section 2(h), which allows for additional public bodies to be prescribed; and a correction of the text of that section by deleting the words "following consultation with the Commission". These words were included in error and are taken from the equivalent definition in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.

I commend amendment No. 1 to the House.