Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking the Bill and for allowing it to go forward. I am quite happy for further scrutiny. I am certainly happy for all of the issues in the legislation to be teased out. This is part of the reason I brought it forward in 2021. I appreciate that the Minister of State is acting on behalf of the Minister for Justice. When we went through Second Stage the Minister raised a lot of similar concerns and made a number of the same points but we have continued to see a number of these incidents of intimidation and harassment. I tabled this legislation when much of what we were dealing with related to Covid. This has moved on and it is often the same people engaging in these intimidatory practices which are now related to immigration.

The right to protest is very important and we need to protect it and balance the safeguards. On Second Stage, the Minister indicated she was happy for further consultation and for the Bill to go to the justice committee. I spoke to the Cathaoirleach of the justice committee who was perfectly happy to engage on this issue. I am concerned that very little has happened. The legislation the Minister of State outlined does not seem strong enough and it does not seem to be enforced. The Minister of State is aware of the recent remarks of the Taoiseach who said he was looking for an answer on this. Is the existing legislation strong enough or do we need, as the Bill provides for, a stand-alone offence?

I would be quite happy if we knew the existing legislation was strong enough but I do not believe that to be the case. The evidence is the fact that these protests are continuing and those carrying them out seem to think they are above the law. This issue is particularly serious. It does not only impact on politicians. We have seen it impact on medical professionals and journalists. I know from speaking to the Cathaoirleach of the justice committee that he and the other committee members are perfectly happy to deal with and engage on the issue. I ask that, as of today, we move as quickly as possible to Final Stage in the House, preferably next week or very shortly thereafter, and that the Bill be sent to the justice committee before the summer. I would appreciate if the Minister of State conveyed that request to the Minister.