Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will very briefly acknowledge much of what Senator Chambers said and the initiative behind this Bill. I congratulate her on the progress it has made. It sets down an important message regarding the ability of non-Government Members, if I can put it in those terms, to bring forth legislative proposals that work. There is a body of elected representatives in this House in particular who want to progress legislative proposals. I also acknowledge the fact that the Minister has been a particularly good and open receptor for those ideas. I congratulate her on the fact that she has always been willing to sit down with Members to discuss legislative proposals. I thank her for that.

I sometimes think that in the melee that is the Dáil, where there is so much other business beyond the legislative agenda to be done, ideas like this that are very simple, common sense and effective and, as Senator Chambers said, have worked very well in other jurisdictions, can slip through the cracks. It is entirely appropriate that this Bill should be brought forward in this House by an individual Senator or Senators. I congratulate the Minister on being so receptive to that idea and being willing to accept a Bill such as this. As Senator Chambers said, we look forward to its passage through the Dáil.