Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too commend Senator Ó Céidigh on what I believe to be an important Bill. One learns a good deal with these types of Bill. I had thought there was significant sanction in the case of perjury being committed. People committing perjury have destroyed other people's lives. Certainly, it calls into question the integrity of the justice system having listened to Senator McDowell and his reflections on the last analysis. The last analysis in the legal system is singularly important. It is vital that the integrity of the last analysis is protected.

The Bill is inspired and the motivations behind it are appropriate. I am informed that the Government does not intend to oppose the Bill on Second Stage. I imagine on Committee Stage the Bill could be enhanced. We have some excellent legal views in the House between people like Senator Bacik and Senator McDowell. I have no doubt they will enhance the Bill. Indeed, they have already assisted in terms of ensuring the Bill is at the standard it is at now.

The Seanad is an ideal place to have these discussions. It is something that might not necessarily be mainstream and that is not in our faces every day in the media. Often we see that the Lower House tends to operate to large extent on that basis whereas this House is more reflective. People here drill down and deep to ensure that we pass legislation that matters to people's lives and that people are treated in a just and fair way. Certainly, what is being proposed is perfectly reasonable and it is something of which the Fine Gael group would be altogether supportive. Senator Ó Céidigh deserves our support in the passing of the Bill through the House as swiftly as possible. I hope we will see a situation this evening whereby it will pass on Second Stage. I sincerely hope that when and if that happens we could move to Committee Stage quickly, perhaps even this side of Christmas, and drive the Bill on.

I have no doubt that the Minister of State may have issues or concerns and that he will outline them if he does. If that arises, we can work on those issues on Committee Stage. I support the suggestion of the Minister of State that officials within his Department would commence an engagement process to ensure the speedy passage of the Bill. I believe this will make for good law and it is obviously necessary. With that, I wish the Bill well. Certainly, Fine Gael will not oppose it.