Laura Harmon (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, for engaging with this today and for his clearly considered response to this Bill and his frank comments relating to it. It is welcome that the Cabinet has approved this in the sense of not opposing it at this stage. I welcome his positive remarks regarding some aspects of the Bill and the substance of the Bill itself. I take on board the three points he made in terms of how the Bill can be more precise and how we can improve precision relating to it. We all acknowledge that, while it is clear-cut on the surface, it is complex in terms of legislation. This is the third attempt at this. I am committed from my perspective to taking on board the Minister's suggestions. I am very keen to inspect the recommendations of the Attorney General regarding this. One aspect of this Bill is that it is quite straightforward. It provides a good base to work from because there is scope to incorporate amendments. I very much look forward to engaging with the Minister on it. I would welcome the opportunity to meet him further on it.

As the Minister said, nobody is proprietary about this. It is not about one individual or grouping taking credit for it. It is clear from the support we have had today from Senators across the House and cross-party and the support in the Gallery from a number of organisations that collectively represent a huge sector of our society that this is an issue people want to see resolved, and we need to make sure we get it right. I look forward to any suggestions for amendments and accepting amendments to it.

I was pleased to bring this forward as my first Bill as part of our Cross-Party Group. We were able to get this within two months of starting as Senators because we believe it is a pressing issue. I take the Minister's points on board regarding the expediency of it. It is welcome that he will decide on whichever avenue is quickest and most effective to bring legislation forward. I would like to be part of that process and I know the Senators in the Cross-Party Group and in this House would wish to assist with that process as well. I look forward to future engagement with the Minister on the Bill and it is welcome it is in the programme for Government. He is a new Minister and, as Senator Noonan said, he is clearly a reforming Minister. It is great to have the thorough discussion on it. We look forward to the next Stage of the Bill, should it pass today, and, we hope, copper-fastening it further and implementing it as soon as we can.