Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for allowing the Bill to get this far. It is critical that it proceeds through the Dáil. The Minister is keen to get it before the Committee on Justice. Now that it has passed all Stages in the Seanad, I hope it will move quickly through the Lower House.

I express my solidarity with the Minister because she and her family have experienced some nastiness on the part of a fringe minority. This is part of what this Bill is intended to address. We want to support peaceful protest in this country - it is a vital part of our democracy - but engaging in intimidatory and bully-boy tactics outside the private homes of individuals, not only politicians but also others, is completely unacceptable.

I would like that we would create a stand-alone offence to give the Garda the powers to address these issues. We have got to say to those small fringe groups who have no interest in our democracy and who have no interest in the rule of law that if they want to protest, they should protest legitimately, but somebody's private home and his or her family and neighbours deserve protection.

I thank the Minister for accepting the Bill and allowing it to go forward. I ask her to help expedite matters and see that it goes before the Committee on Justice in order that it can be enacted as soon as possible and that gardaí can be given powers to prevent the type of incidents which, unfortunately, we have seen in recent years.