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

I thank the Members for their very constructive input into this very important and groundbreaking legislation. It contains a number of serious amendments and will make a big difference to both men and women in our country. I look forward to its implementation. I hope to get it through the Lower House before Christmas.

The debate in this House has been extremely constructive, quite robust, and that is the way it should be, but always respectful and engaging. That is how we should go about our business. We test the legislation, we debate it and we examine it.

I also want to pay tribute to my officials who worked extremely hard on this legislation and put a huge amount of work into it. I know officials in the Department of Justice and Equality have gotten some poor press recently but I can tell colleagues here that there is no better group of officials anywhere. They work extremely hard and above and beyond the call of duty. They work out of hours and put their heart and soul into it. It is not just a job with them but a passion. They want to get it right as do all Members here and as I do also. I thank the Members.