James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The views taken with the amendments to the Bill is that the 1997 Act, albeit a bit old, contains flaws identified by the LRC which will be addressed by these amendments. A one-year report and a three-year review will be carried out on the Bill, if passed. This amendment is extending the remit of the Bill. At the moment, harassment under the existing law is only to the person. This extends the law to where it is about the person. Perhaps I misspoke but I wish to make it clear that this extends it to where it is not only to the person but about the person. It will make the law broader in that respect. The view taken on this side of the House is that the amendments are sufficient to address the current concerns around the 1997 Act.