Registration of Wills Bill
Senator Leyden sought to have all stages of the Registration of Wills Bill 2016 taken, but the Leader repeatedly refused to accept the amendment. The Chair managed the exchange and allowed Leyden to make a brief personal tribute to a Roscommon footballer before the debate moved on.
We agree to Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive. With regard to No. 4, the Registration of Wills Bill 2016, a Private Members' Bill in the names of myself, Senator Ardagh and Senator Clifford-Lee, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that Committee and Remaining Stages of this Bill be taken. This Bill has gone through the Seanad on a number of occasions, starting 14 years ago. It has gone through Committee Stage and been finalised but unfortunately, on many occasions, the Dáil was dissolved before the Bill came before it. It is important legislation. It is most significant because the Law Society is not overly enthusiastic about. The society is, to its mind, protecting the interests of its members in this regard. I would totally disagree with the society. It is not representing its members because those members of the Law Society whom I know in County Roscommon are very supportive of the Bill. The late Brian Lenihan Jnr was of tremendous assistance to me in initially drafting this Bill. He helped in every possible way in guiding it through the Seanad before. He was an eminent senior counsel and could see the merits of the Bill. There are no amendments on Committee Stage - we will go into this later on - because it was amended so often in 2005 and 2011. In the circumstances, I appeal to all Members of this House to allow this Bill to pass through the House and on to the Dáil. I would be delighted if the Government would adopt the Bill.
One can register one's dog, one's sheep and one's cattle, but there is no registration available for the most important and significant document people make, which is a will. In a sophisticated society, such as ours which registers land, deaths, births and marriages with our tremendous Civil Service, there is resistance to this for some unknown reason. On that point, there are only two countries in the European Union and Council of Europe which have not implemented such registration. They are Malta and Ireland. They are the only two countries out of the 47 members of the Council of Europe and the 28 members of the EU. It is extraordinary that we have been so slow in this particular regard.
The Leader has already requested an amendment in respect of No. 3. The Order Paper said that Second Stage would be taken but the Leader said that it would be all Stages. The Leader is proposing an amendment to the Order of Business himself.
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I am not. I am proposing the Order of Business. I am not proposing any amendment to it.
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I am outlining what is on the Order Paper.
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Senator Leyden said that I am proposing an amendment to the Order of Business. I am not.
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I am proposing the Order of Business.
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The Order Paper said that Second Stage of No. 3, the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019, would be taken. The Leader said that we will take all Stages. I am proposing the same for No. 4. I also want to take all Stages.
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I beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence; I have one other point.
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I beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence in this regard.
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This is a significant point on the history of County Roscommon. Mr. Liam Gilmartin died on 2 March. I offer our sympathies to his family. He was from Ballymurray, Knockcrokery, and was the last remaining member of the last Roscommon football team to win an All-Ireland title in 1944. He won All-Ireland medals in 1943 and 1944, 74 years ago. All that team which brought great honour to County Roscommon has died. It is significant that I am one of the longest serving Oireachtas Members from Roscommon. I visited Mr. Gilmartin's home in Dalkey yesterday to pay my respects and express my sympathies to his family. It marks the passing of a great Rossy. The team was captained by Jimmy Murray and included two others who later became Members of the Oireachtas, former Deputy Hugh Gibbons and former Senator Jack McQuillan. May Mr. Gilmartin rest in peace.