Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will not hold up the House. Before we move on to a final vote, it is important that we would remember that this is an important piece of legislation. Senator Leyden is to be commended for his persistence in bringing forward this legislation. This legislation has a long back story. I hope Senator Leyden's persistence will be rewarded with a landmark development this evening with its passage through the Seanad. It is important to remember that this Bill seeks to address a particular mischief or challenge relating to probating wills.In some cases, the challenge is finding the wills in the first place. Senator Leyden's Bill is more than "well intentioned", to use the words of the Minister which are often used to patronise legislative initiatives in the Houses. The Bill is a timely and reasonable intervention. Admittedly, it will not solve all the issues and challenges in this area, but it will go some way towards making life easier for those making wills and those benefitting from them.

All Members know that wills attract considerable public interest. I am currently reading a book entitled Famous Irish Trialsby Matthias McDonnell Bodkin which was written in the 1920s, the early years of this State. In it, the author tells the story of a serial will-maker in the 19th century who, as soon as he had decided to favour one party, would immediately disinherit them by making another will because the original beneficiary had perhaps cut down a tree to his annoyance or refused to donate to a charity in which a supporter of his was engaged. Lord Longford's estate was the eventual beneficiary of the will in question and that led to a famous 19th century Irish trial. I am sure most present remember the television programme "Glenroe", although Senator Warfield told me earlier that his memories of it are somewhat sketchy. Some may remember the character of Dinny Byrne, played by the great Joe Lynch, who was looking forward to benefitting from the estate of his late uncle Peter. It fell to Fr. Devereux, played by the sadly recently deceased actor, Dónall Farmer, to inform Dinny that there was no will or, as Fr. Devereux put it, "I am afraid Uncle Peter died intestate," to which Dinny responded, "I thought it was the heart."