Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chair for expediting this Bill, which is important because the deadline is looming. I thank, in particular, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. While he is a capable Minister of State, he is not normally a Minister of State in the Department of Justice. He may not be as familiar with this legislation as others and he has done a good job to steer it through the House today. I thank him for stepping in on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee.

I reiterate that it is important to deal with the people and representative bodies that are affected, on a day-to-day basis, by the changes that are proposed. It would be worthwhile for the Department and the Minister to talk to them in advance of the legislation moving through the Dáil.