Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Senator Clifford-Lee. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo inniu. Déanaim comhghairdeas léi agus lena clann ag an am iontach speisialta seo dóibh. I wish to extend a warm welcome to the Minister this afternoon. It is my first opportunity to address her in her new role. I wish her well. She will be working alongside the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue. I have no doubt they will get on like a house on fire. I am aware both of them have had meetings with a number of organisations, some of which I requested on the organisations' behalf. I thank the Minister sincerely for that and wish her well.

I fully support the Bill. Covid-19 has set many challenges for different aspects of our society.The legal and judicial system is not immune to that either. It is an opportunity, in many ways, to see how we can do business differently and in a way, even two months ago, we could not imagine. I welcome that change and this legislation is a genuine effort to try to enter that space and bring technology to the legal and judicial system in a way that will make it work more efficiently. It will be evident when considering the need to transfer prisoners to court or other prisons, the process of giving evidence in civil proceedings and the work of the coroner's court. I would like to think this will be the first step in the judicial and legal system entering this technology space. It is a challenge that Covid-19 has thrown to us and I hope this is just the beginning, in many ways, of how we can do business differently. For those reasons I very much welcome the Bill.

For the citizens caught - if I can use that term - in the legal system seeking justice, whatever system we introduce must be fully operational so the rights of those citizens at all times can be respected. The embrace of technology, in whatever form it comes, should in no way lessen an individual's right to get a fair trial or justice in a speedy and efficient manner. For that reason the Fianna Fáil Party and I are glad to support this legislation.

My colleague outlined in great detail the different aspects of the Bill and there is no need for me to dwell on them now other than to say I hope this legislation passes speedily. I know some of my colleagues may have a number of amendments and I hope there will be an opportunity to address the legitimate concerns they may have so we can all embrace this legislation. We are in a strange place now but it is reassuring how society is pulling together and doing things differently. The legal profession and the Judiciary are no different in that regard. I look forward to the Bill passing through the House successfully.