Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and our guests from Together for Safety. What Senator Gavan said is important. This Bill has been drafted by Together for Safety and the work that it has done in reaching out to all of us is welcome. When we operate on a cross-party basis in the Seanad, as we have on a number of issues, particularly with regard to women's healthcare, contraception, the stalking legislation dealt with yesterday and the new legislation about character references in sexual assault cases that was launched yesterday, it is beneficial to politics and society. I ask the Minister to address, in response to these amendments, where matters are at present. The legislation was supposed to have included safe access zones in 2019. That was expected. I know the Minister has previously said that he has a commitment about this, which is welcome. We need to pass this legislation and we need to hear what the Department will do, including a timeline for safe access zones. Senator Gavan has listened to what came up last time. I see from the first amendment that he also listened to concerns from trade unions and other groups and tabled that amendment on the basis that it would address some concerns. That is an important point that the Minister might take into consideration when allowing it to progress, although it is up to us to allow it to pass, and from the Government's perspective.