Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

I am very happy to speak briefly on this debate. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her and the Minister, Deputy Foley, for their work on this area and, indeed, you, a Chathaoirligh Gníomhach, for your time as Minister of State. You were very proactive in that regard.

I thank my colleague Senator Tom Clonan sincerely for not just his work on and input into this Bill but indeed his work in this entire area. His commitment, his tireless work and his love for his son Eoghan are clear for anybody to see. All he wants is a better life and a better break for his son and for others, and I salute him for his work. Tom walks the walk each day; therefore, he has earned the right to talk about this and he is the expert in this area. That is why I was happy to support him during the previous term and put my name to this Bill, like others did. I salute him.

The aim of the Bill is something that I feel very strongly about, and something that I was happy to support back then and am equally happy to support now. I listened carefully to the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Foley, somebody whom I hold in true regard as a very sincere human being. She is very sincere in all she does. I listened carefully to her argument as to why this timed amendment should be put in place. I know it is not the result people have looked for. Others have spoken about this pilot being concluded by the end of the year - that is what the Minister said - but that is not where this work ends, unfortunately. The pilot ends but the pilot then has to be reviewed. In an ideal world, I would like this to happen within six months. Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world, but I certainly will press the Government on this. An 18-month amendment has been mentioned and proposed and I will support that based on the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and her reasoning as to why this cannot happen within six months. I intend, however, to hold the Government to this and make sure, like others have said, that this legislation comes through as quickly as possible for us.

Again, I thank Senator Tom Clonan and others for their work on this area. I am disappointed to say it cannot be done in six months but I accept the reasoning given by the Minister as to why that is so. For that reason I will support the amendment as proposed this evening.