Harassment and harmful communications Bill
Brendan Howlin welcomed progress on the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill and asked when it would reach committee. The Taoiseach said there was no fixed date yet but the Government wanted it enacted before the summer recess, and he also mentioned related legislation on parental leave and missing persons.
In the spirit of new politics and harmonious relations between Government and Opposition, I acknowledge that the Government will progress the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 that passed Second Stage here in January 2018. I also welcome the fact that the Cabinet has now approved a number of amendments to that Bill and will present them to the House. I am sure that, like myself, Deputies will have received many queries from concerned parents and young people about the urgency of getting this legislation passed. When will the Bill proceed into Committee and would the Taoiseach share my ambition of seeing this Bill enacted by the summer?
Comment on this
We do not have a day yet but we are keen to work with the Deputy and get this legislation passed. We should set the objective to have it enacted before the summer recess and if we can work together on it, we would be happy to see that done.
On a separate vein, I was able to sign the money message for the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 yesterday. I recognise the role of Deputies Shortall and Catherine Murphy of the Social Democrats in that. We also agreed to grant a money message today for a Seanad Private Members' Bill in relation to people who have gone missing for seven or eight years for whom there is trouble getting a death certificate. These are three examples of Opposition legislation that we are keen to progress. There are others too.