Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. My question is whether we can have this debate. These hearings were completely ignored and if we have more committee meetings they will be a charade as well. It is part of the careful choreographing of this issue. People are not equal members at committees, as is well known. This is a life and death issue that should be debated in each of these Houses. The Order of Business is not the moment to go through the really noxious and sinister aspects of this Bill which are certainly there. I will not put down an amendment to the Order of Business today because my colleagues deserve an opportunity to read the heads of the Bill and to see how awful some aspects of this proposed Bill are. I will, however, propose amendments to the Order of Business next week. The Taoiseach should be accountable to the Houses on such a fundamental issue. It is important that the Minister for Health and Children would go before both Houses and that each House would have an opportunity to debate this. We must not be herded and stage-managed. That is what has been happening all along on this issue. It is really unworthy of the Government to have done it in this way. Further hearings by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children will only add to that. I say that with great respect to the Chairman and the other members but we cannot have a proper debate if the committee hearings are used to manage the flow of information and the presentation of this Bill.