I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. During Covid, there has perhaps been an issue around public awareness on many different issues and, in particular, when these changes will occur and what they actually mean. Perhaps there is concern that these changes will have a greater legal impact than they will in fact have. I agree with the Senator that rights of way can be extremely contentious. Good neighbours have become bitter enemies over rights of way. As someone who practised as a barrister for 14 years,…

I thank Senators Dooley and Buttimer for raising this critical matter for the aviation sector regarding regional access within Ireland and connectivity throughout the world. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, who cannot be here but who sends her apologies. I would like to provide an update on the challenges facing the aviation sector and the steps being taken by the Government to restore connectivity and ensure the industry will be well positi…

I acknowledge that both Senators have a genuine interest in the sector, not just locally or regionally but nationally as well. It is a matter that both have raised regularly, even before the pandemic. I will convey all their concerns to the Minister of State and the Government to ensure that whatever steps can be taken will be taken as quickly as possible. I agree that speed in regard to this matter is as important as doing the right thing, so we need to act quickly.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter of the possibility of a temporary amnesty for the driver theory test. Every Senator and Deputy is acutely aware of the serious backlog in theory tests and the impact of same. Certainly anybody in that situation has my sympathy and staff in my constituency office in Wexford are acutely aware. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. She cannot be here and sends her apologies. The dri…

I appreciate the Senator's very real concerns around this matter. I know that he would not in any way suggest that road safety should be compromised and that it is certainly not the angle he is coming from on this matter. He has a genuine concern about the backlog, which many of us have, in terms of people trying to get access to theory tests. The backlog is having a very real impact on all sorts of people's lives, especially young people who want to get out whether it is for college or work purposes. I assure the …

I thank Senator Mullen for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, who unfortunately cannot be here this morning. PIAB is an agency under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment that independently assesses claims for compensation arising from personal injuries. It can assess claims only where both parties, namely, the claimant and respondent, consent to an assessment. Under the PIAB process, a respondent has 90 days to carry out an…

There is not a gaping hole and there is no lacuna. It is on purpose. PIAB is an administrative body and both parties voluntarily enter its process to try to resolve the matter as quickly as possible without resorting to litigation. If we were to introduce what the Senator is proposing, we would effectively turn PIAB into a quasi-judicial body.

Parties would then effectively expect to have to be legally represented, which would only increase costs significantly. It is a process in which it is hoped that both parties will engage openly and honestly to resolve the matter in question, if possible. If an insurance company believes an applicant is in any way being untruthful - companies have their own resources to make these assessments - it can simply reject any assessment and take the matter to court, where the full force of law is available to address any f…

It is not a lacuna. It is on purpose.

I thank Senator Currie for raising this timely matter. I apologise on behalf of the Tánaiste who cannot be here this morning. Co-working hubs are becoming increasingly relevant as a result of the Covid pandemic. They have brought great benefits to people's lifestyles, allowing them to spend more time with their families and their communities. As our country continues to navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working and measures to support remote working have become more important than ever before. This is …

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. I will bring it to the Tánaiste's attention. In my county I have seen the improvement in people's lifestyles, the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of people being able to work from home and not having to commute long distances. They can benefit from remote working hubs and we are looking to develop more of those in County Wexford. I agree that everybody should be able to avail of the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of remote working hubs, either in …

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is in Lisbon today for important discussions relating to the Common Agricultural Policy and, unfortunately, cannot be here. I thank Senator O’Donovan for providing me with the opportunity to update the House on the matters pertaining to this very important issue. For the record, I should state at the outset that the strict legal position in relation to the revocation of Ireland's control plan is that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within …

I hear that Senator O'Donovan is very passionate and has genuine concerns on this matter. It is a matter that affects a number of coastal counties, including my county of Wexford. I will certainly bring his concerns to the attention of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, when he returns from Lisbon. It is a matter I will certainly raise with him as the concerns, which are real and genuine, are affecting fishing communities throughout this entire country. I understand where those concerns come from, very much so.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill to the House for Report and Final Stages. As the House is aware, the purpose of the Bill is to consolidate and simplify the law relating to offences and related offences. The Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018 aims to establish a statutory criminal offence, much like theft or burglary, for perjury that could clearly be understood by the public, enforcement authorities and prosecutors alike…

I note the concerns expressed by Senators about the Title. The Title was changed for the purposes of consistency on the advice of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I note the Senators' remarks in that regard. I cannot say why perjury was not put on a statutory footing before now. All I can say is that the provision is now going to be enacted and brought into law. I acknowledge the tremendous work done by the former Senator, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, and his team to bring this legislation forward as a Private Member…

The second group of amendments comprises amendments Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, amendment No. 20 and amendment No. 21. This group of amendments relates directly to the offence of perjury and subornation of perjury. Amendment No. 7, in section 2, amends the definition of perjury so that it may apply to statements of truth in addition to sworn statements and affidavits. Amendment No. 8 is necessary to provide a clear definition of "subornation of perjury" in section 3. Subornation of perjury means persuading another pers…

I thank Senator Davitt for his comment on that matter.

Amendments Nos. 10 to 19, inclusive, are in group 3. The group of amendments relates to sections 5 and 6. Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 are technical amendments to the wording of this section on the advice of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Amendment No. 13 is a technical amendment to section 5(2), rewording the subsection so that it reads more clearly. Amendments Nos. 14 and 15 are technical amendments to the wording, made on the advice of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Amendment No. 16 is a technical amend…

I note there is an old section 8 which has also been deleted. It is not in any of the groups but I note it for the record. Amendments Nos. 22 to 24, inclusive, are grouped. These amend sections 13 and 14. Amendment No. 22 creates a new section to provide that the directors or other officers of a body corporate may be liable to be proceeded against under this Bill where the offence is committed by the body corporate with the connivance of that director or other officer. This is a necessary and common provision in st…

Amendments Nos. 25 and 26 are grouped. Amendment No. 25 provides for the rewording of section 15(3) which provides that a relevant offence that is punishable exclusively on summary conviction under enactments may be proceeded against under the other enactment only to avoid the possibility of the imposition of a higher penalty than would otherwise apply when the legislative offence was committed. Amendment No. 26 deletes section 15(2) on the basis of advice we have received from the Office of the Attorney General. T…