Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will come back on that. I thank the Minister of State. One of the great things about this debate is that it puts all of this on the record, which is really important because it is a bit sketchy. Clearly, the Minister of State has the advice and I am very happy to take on board all of that. I am not an expert on genealogy by any stretch of the imagination, but this was an issue that was raised with me and there seems to be more than some logic in it. The Minister of State used the word "uninterrupted". Yes, it might be uninterrupted, but we are in a Republic. There has been no mention in the Minister of State's response about the fact that we operate and live in a Republic. Is there really a place for this in the Republic? Let us keep the language here simple because, as I always say, the public are listening in and this will be reported in Oireachtas reports on television, radio and wherever. People are hugely interested in these things and people will be scratching their heads and asking why we are keeping this when we have a Republic and where it goes.

I am also conscious, although I am not going to dwell too much on it, that this Bill was initiated in this House. Therefore, the Bill will make its trajectory from here to the Dáil, where I know from speaking to a number of TDs yesterday that it is their intention to give this Bill very fine scrutiny. That is good and it is important we flag that with the Minister of State's Department and officials, because it gives them time to engage. I will certainly be encouraging the people who engage with me to engage with the Department and the Minister of State's officials because we want to tease out any ambiguity and we want greater clarity on what the issues are.

The Minister of State referred to the 1997 Act, which reflects on that position. I have come here to make the case that this amendment should go onto Schedule 2, rather than being taken away. Schedule 2 details the revoked instruments, and it can stay there. It does not have to be obliterated. The Minister of State and her officials have moved a number of sections from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, and there may very well be a case. I accept the Minister of State's officials cannot make a decision here and now on the floor of this House, but they might reflect on that when it goes to the Dáil. Is there another way of dealing with this so that it could be put on Schedule 2 for revocation, as with a whole load of other aspects the Minister of State's officials have advised to be put on it?

There is a bit of explaining and simplification to be done here. I hear what the Minister of State is saying and I take the view that we should proceed here, but I am also conscious that this is not the end of it and it will have another life further down the line. That is just some feedback on the Minister of State's contribution.