Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was not expecting to be able to speak. I will be brief, as spokespeople will want to speak. I want to express how proud I am of my colleague, Senator Ruane, and of this important legislation. As a member of the civil engagement group, I am glad to support it. It will create new possibilities for people in their lives. It is good for society. It means that society will gain and benefit from people who have previously been precluded. It is not just about the person who cannot do social work, just as one example. The fact is that social work loses out on somebody who may bring incredible insight and understanding into that work. Society gains by not having measures that serve as arbitrary blocks to stop us from benefiting from all that people have to offer, such as those who may have past convictions of the kinds covered in this Bill.

I echo the comments of others to the Minister. As much as we want everyone to be ambitious in their lives, I hope that we can retain that sense of ambition in the legislation. We should recognise that, for example, where there are convictions, there may be a cluster of convictions. We should not have a situation whereby we create further barriers. I encourage the Minister to keep the sense of ambition in the Bill, as it passes through the Dáil. On the issue of employment equality, I hope the Bill sends a strong message to employers. It is a signal that we, as legislators, value people and their contributions, as well as the important protections that are there in the employment equality provision. It is good that people now have the experience of the law protecting them, rather than the law being something with which they are in a permanent adversarial relationship. In fact, the law is something that can protect them. That is a positive signal to send. Again, I am delighted to see this Bill move to its next stage.