Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before I raise an issue, I want the Members to join with me in welcoming two members of Galway City Council, Councillor Ollie Crowe, a member for the city centre area, and Councillor Peter Keane, a member for Galway city west. Both were nominated last night to contest the council elections next May. The convention was chaired by Deputy Scanlon. I wish both of them every success in the election. Galway is very lucky to have such councillors. All the members of the city council, including the mayor, are excellent and I really hope that council will be retained. The work it is doing for the west, Galway city and the year of culture is second to none. I wish the councillors every success for the future and thank them, on behalf of Fianna Fáil, for their commitment and their work for their constituents in Galway.

I refer to No. 45 on the Order Paper, the Registration of Wills Bill 2016, which was promoted by myself and Senators Ardagh and Clifford-Lee. This Bill is on Committee Stage and over the years, I have been attempting to get it passed but without much help from the Law Society of Ireland. I discussed this matter with Mr. Peter Keane, a prominent solicitor who is in the Visitors Gallery, before the Order of Business. This arises from an article by Mr. Charlie Weston in theSunday Independentof 2 December 2018. Mr. Weston outlined the exact plan of the Bill I proposed, which is now being sought throughout Europe. I think Malta and Ireland are the two countries in Europe that do not have such a scheme. In the article, which is worth reading, he pinned down exactly what is happening in this regard. The Royal London insurance company asked the Minister and the Government to bring this Bill forward. The article stated that while probate delays are a product of a complex process with insufficient resources, the lack of a centralised wills register is compounding the issue.

This Bill could be passed by the House quickly and I will seek Government time in this regard. I will not go through the detail of the Bill again because Second Stage was passed with the co-operation of all the parties.For some reason, Deputy Joan Burton, came in as Minister and turned it down completely. She gave it no consideration and the great and progressive Labour Party turned out not to be so progressive as far as that issue was concerned. It is causing great distress to solicitors and those who are deprived of their inheritance where a will cannot be found. Unfortunately, there are many situations now where will books in the offices of solicitors who go out of business for one reason or another, including retirements, are lost forever. The House would do a good day's work if the Deputy Leader looked into the matter. It is now the responsibility of the Department of Health rather than of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and I ask the Deputy Leader to contact the Minister. I will also contact him to see if we can progress the Bill to Final Stage and pass it on to the Dáil.