Vol. 1 No. 6
In accordance with Standing Order 79, I propose the following message be sent to the Clerk of the Dáil:
The Select Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights has completed its consideration of the Employment Equality Bill, 1997 and has made amendments thereto.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank you, Chairman and the Committee for giving the legislation careful consideration. I hope we have improved it and that people will be satisfied that we have done so. I thank Members for remaining for this long meeting. Once this message goes to the House it will be possible for the Whips to take Report Stage on Tuesday, 9 June.
On behalf of the Committee, I thank the Minister of State and her officials for staying with us all day and for the work they have done on the Bill.
The Minister of State and her officials have done an incredible amount of work. We have come a tortuous route via the Supreme Court to the point we have reached today. This is important and long delayed legislation. It is important to create an effective framework in which the concept of equality in the workplace can be copperfastened. This Bill is a great step in the right direction. I am very pleased that provisions for people with disability have been strengthened. I hope the remaining areas of concern are addressed on Report Stage. I thank the Minister of State and her officials and I thank you, Chairman, for your effective management of the Committee.
I also thank the Minister of State and her officials. We gave them a lot of work to do. It is important that we expedited the legislation while giving it careful consideration. We are all agreed that we would like to see it enacted as soon as possible. As Deputy Fitzgerald said, certain aspects must be revisited in this or a future Bill. I am pleased we have reached this stage.
Thank you, Chairman, for your orderly conduct of the debate. I thank the Minister of State and her officials who have spent many hours working on the Bill. I hope it will achieve all we hope for. It is a very happy coincidence that having seen this Bill passed when I was not a Member of the House, I now see it passed when I am a Member. I pay tribute to the knowledge and commitment the Minister of State has built up through her work in other areas.
Mr. Murphy has asked me to thank the Bills Office for its work.
Deputies have referred to the large number of amendments and I know staff in the Bills Office worked very hard. Two officials in the Department worked until 5 a.m. on one occasion and one official worked until 7 a.m. I also acknowledge the input by outside groups such as ICTU, the Irish Council for Disabilities and others who were very helpful with suggestions and encouragement.
Is it agreed to commence discussion of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Bill, 1998, on Wednesday, 4 June at 2 p.m. in Room G 24? Agreed.
