As the Taoiseach will be aware, all the organisations that represent the people that the Government says it is trying to protect by the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 have grave reservations about the Bill, as drafted. Those reservations, as the Taoiseach will be aware, are widely shared throughout society, including by civil liberties groups, human rights groups, academics, lawyers etc. Will the Government delay the implementation of the Bill until we have had more consultation with those people? They are genuine and bona fide. Their reservations are genuinely held. When the very people we are trying to protect are unhappy with the way we are doing our business, it should give us some pause for thought.

I thank the Deputy. My understanding is that the various NGOs and interest groups that represent protected categories, such as women's groups, LGBT groups, Traveller groups and so on, broadly support the legislation. If that has changed, it is new information to me. The intention of the Minister is to conclude the Bill in the Seanad as soon as we can but obviously commencing it will take a bit more time.