Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House to deal with this very important legislation. As my colleagues, Senators Gallagher and Ward, outlined, it is long overdue. I worked in the legal system for a number of years and faced many of the frustrations that the Bill seeks to address. It is very welcome, although it is a pity it has taken something like a global pandemic to bring about these changes. It is good and progressive that we are doing this now.

The legal system needs to prepare itself for the second wave of the virus that all the experts tell us is coming. We need to get our systems in place and be able to continue to function with some degree of normality and allow the judicial system in particular to work. Justice delayed is justice denied and we want to ensure everybody can access justice in as speedy a manner as possible.

I particularly welcome the statement of truth changes. I know the Law Society of Ireland has warmly welcomed this measure and it is something the society, of which I am a member, has constantly lobbied for. It is a progressive act for this to be done now. I know, for example, a number of people who needed to get affidavits sworn during the lockdown but they could not access a solicitor to do it. The solicitors were putting themselves in danger by swearing affidavits. It is a very welcome move.

I hope this Bill can move through the House today with consensus. There are some amendments and I hope we can work our way through them. Changes such as those already before the House require political cohesion on the matter so I welcome the Minister's input, along with that of other parties in the House, in seeing if we can come to some sort of compromise and have the Bill passed. I look forward to working with the Minister in implementing further changes that the legal system may need.