David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is not a whole lot between us on this one at all. My advice is that we have to be cautious as it could risk making things more difficult for victims. However, I have listened carefully to what my learned friends here have said and I respect the wishes of the Seanad. I am prepared to come back on Report Stage with an amendment that I think will probably meet the wishes of the Senators in this regard. I do not want to divide us on this and have a vote, so I am willing to do that. In fact, I think that I can accept the amendment now with the proviso that I may come back with an amendment to it on Report Stage.

I ask Senators in the interim to have another look at the issue and to consider what I said as well. I am not into winning votes or that kind of stuff. I am genuine about the arguments being put forward. It is not a case of having a win over the Senators or the Senators having a win over me. That does not come into it. I ask the Senators to have a good look at the arguments which I have put forward. If they think there is merit in them, they might come back to me. We will accept amendment No. 6, which I figure is the remaining one, and I will have a proposal on Report Stage to improve it. If that is acceptable to Senators, we can discuss it on that Stage.