Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My contribution is an appeal and I wish to echo in very forceful terms what the Minister outlined at the end of his remarks. This legislation is necessary for Ireland to meet its international obligations and ratify the Istanbul Convention. I sincerely hope that all Members of this House will appreciate its urgency. Violence against women, as we will all agree, is a horrendous crime. If there are small or technical elements in the legislation that people have issues with, I suggest they introduce an amended Private Members' Bill in due course to sort them out. This legislation is to ratify our international obligations and to support and assist women who find themselves in a violent situation. As legislators, we have a duty not to delay it. No amendments have been tabled on Committee Stage. If people were exercised about elements of it, they had the option of putting down amendments on Committee Stage. I appeal to Senators not to delay the Bill but to let it pass as quickly as possible.