Regina Doherty (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and colleagues. Senator Boyhan is very welcome as to the Bill which will probably have some amendments from Opposition parties. It is very important that everyone knows what we are trying to learn from this, which was that the process of SHDs, as we all know, was flawed.

I have not seen the recommendations from the horse racing report published today but I hope that it addresses some of the issues that have been highlighted here and in the media over the past number of years. I thank Senator Boyhan again for bringing that to our notice.

Addressing Senator Ward, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the voting instructions from Ireland fully state that we will not tolerate the conduct he describes. What is really interesting is why this has been tolerated up until now and why the rest of the members of the voting body of Interpol have even allowed such a system to be abused by China. I will certainly pass on the Senator’s messages to the Minister for Justice and the support that he has raised here today for that strategy.Everybody could hear the joy in Senator Cassells's contribution today. Having lived there for many years, I know that we have been trying to get support for rail services to Navan. Nobody underestimates the value of getting these words written in a document today. That is really important. I genuinely wish the campaigners and the team supporting those 2,000 people who made submissions every success. I really do hope they will not be waiting as long as some others have been waiting, but that is a matter for another response. I wish Senator Cassells well and I hope everything works out well.