James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach very much. I also want to thank the Cathaoirleach, Senator Daly, on the one-year anniversary of his holding of this office in light of the very significant amount of legislation that has been brought through the Seanad in the past year in a difficult period. This was primarily due to his stewardship and I congratulate him on that.

I also want to thank the Senators again for facilitating this legislation’s passage through the Houses. Senator Conway is correct in that there has been significant delay in the transposition of directives. When I was appointed to this position last September there were six long-standing Bills that needed to be transposed. Thanks to the good work of the Seanad in facilitating me, this is the fourth of those six to be passed. The other two are going through pre-legislative scrutiny this week and I expect that these will also be passed in the autumn. I agree with Senator Conway’s sentiments that when we catch up, which we will do by the autumn, there should be no further falling behind.

I thank my officials who have done a tremendous amount of work to ensure that we have been able to get these four pieces of legislation passed into law. The Counterfeiting Bill 2020 is another step by the Government and the Department of Justice in tackling criminal activity. It is a technical Bill but one of great importance in continuing our efforts to weaken criminals who are trying to undermine our State and European Union through the use of counterfeit notes and other actions. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Seanad once again.