Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I am not altogether sure I wish to speak because in doing so I may raise another hare. I thank Senators for their contributions. As Senator Walsh noted, we took a circuitous and scenic route around the Bill on which everyone had an opportunity to speak. As such, it is not correct to claim it was guillotined.

We have been dealing with this legislation since 2006. It was ventilated and, some would argue, delayed in the Seanad which took a long time deliberating on it. To be fair, however, the deliberations of the Seanad proved helpful in the Dáil because much of the teasing out of the legislation had been done at great length in this House.

I cannot abide hypocrisy. It is the case, and I say this advisedly, that the Labour Party-----