Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to repeat the points that have already been made but a central acknowledgement is that An Garda Síochána has not issued, as has been said by the Minister of State, any closure or compliance order. On one level this vindicates the legislators who supported this two months ago and on another level we can say the Members of this House and the Lower House who opposed it, some in colourful terms, are not vindicated and were wrong. I do not see them as being wrong. People are never wrong when they are vigilant. Who was to know there would be such buy-in to date? It is a significant emergency power that remains on the Statute Book. A cautionary approach is always the best. Stakeholder buy-in is very encouraging and I include the people of Ireland because they have not demonstrated a demand to tempt publicans into going down the road they ought not to travel.

I hear the calls and concerns of a number of Senators. The points are well made, in the sense I know it is an unfair question as to why June and it seems to be arbitrary and selected without consideration. If there was any justification for it, I would understand it. I cannot say why not February either. Less is more in this instance. As Senator McDowell mentioned, there is also the element of hope. I am a little bit more hopeful than some speakers. Perhaps in seven months' time there might be a way out of this, and I am not so sure about legislating today with a fait accomplithat we are in its until at least mid next year, which we might be but I am not giving up on it and why should we?

I commend an Garda Síochána on the front line. I meet them most days on the way home. I am not sure whether the resources are best used by slowing up the traffic for such long periods of time. When I get to them I always have a chat with them and they are great and very pleasant and professional. There should be joined-up thinking, especially if there are roadworks on major motorways. Why put a Garda checkpoint a mile further up the road after disgruntled motorists have had to navigate through and waste time on roadworks? Why should they then meet a Garda Síochána checkpoint?

I hear the bona fide and genuine concerns with regard to emergency legislation and I feel that less is more. I would like to have seen more consultation before it was put before us. There seems to be no justification and because of this we feel June is a fair call. I have not seen compelling reasons it has to be June . I am slightly disappointed we have arrived at June but I understand the bona fides of the Government. Overall, there is movement in the right direction. I concur with a great deal of what Senator Ward has said. I have not seen an argument or compelling reason that it has to be June, apart from that kicking it into next year sounds good. We should not be so easy about kicking emergency legislation to seven months away. I am flagging this to the Minister of State. I know he is doing his very best, as is the Government, but I have a concern as to why we arrived at a date seven months hence.