Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, to the House and thank him for coming. I support the Private Members' Bill from my colleague, Senator Robbie Gallagher, and congratulate him on bringing the Bill before the House. I welcome in the Gallery Mr. Gus O'Gorman and his son, Cathal, who were instrumental in bringing this to the fore. They fought very bravely in the Supreme Court. It is quite amazing these ground rents still exist nearly 100 years on from achieving our constitutional freedom. When I was in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs in 1982, I discovered the GPO was owned by some British landlord, which was quite amazing at the time. I believe it has been bought out since, or at least I hope it was bought out before the 1916 ceremonies. I also welcome my former colleague, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, a former Minister and Ceann Comhairle. It has been 30 years since he and I served in the Department of Health. It was between 1987 and 1989 and we worked very well in that Department in a very difficult period. I also welcome to the House Pádraig, P. J. and Aidan, as well as Deputy Niamh Smyth, who is from the Monaghan area.

I am quite hopeful the Minister will welcome and support this amending Bill, which is very practical. It demonstrates new politics, in a way, as we can bring forward a Private Members' Bill and get support from the Government side. In the past this would have been opposed, as it was with my Registration of Wills Bill. I hope this might be brought forward as well with this great new relationship, which is very positive. I am sure Dr. O'Hanlon is particularly surprised to see this new politics in action. It is a true indication of how active it is when we see such goodwill on the opposite side in this regard.