Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, spelled out clearly last night the legal and constitutional reasons this Bill cannot be supported by the Government side. He went into a deal of detail in that regard. It is not fair to say during the course of the debate here this evening that the legal and constitutional issues were not seriously debated by the Government side. The Minister put forward his views clearly and in a forthright way on the basis of the advice that he was given. The Government recognises the problems which the retail sector, in particular, is facing at this time and is doing everything possible and practical to deal with that situation.

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