Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry to hear about the Deputy's frustration. The purpose of Committee Stage is to tease out issues arising in the legislation. In the framing of amendments, we have had particular regard to submissions received from various groups and organisations. Technical issues arise in respect of sections 15 and 17 and Parliamentary Counsel required further time to deal with them. I was anxious that we would progress Committee Stage. This Bill has been unduly delayed as a consequence of the pressures on the Attorney General's office arising from the legislative programme prescribed by the troika and the need to enact the insolvency legislation. I would have preferred to have taken Committee Stage on this Bill at least 12 months ago but that did not prove possible.

As we go through Committee Stage I will be putting down markers to members on issues we have not yet finalised on a technical level and to which we will be reverting on Report Stage. This is one such issue. Certain of the issues have been raised some time ago but the reality was that the necessary technical work could only be undertaken in recent months, not only because the insolvency legislation has been completed but also because of issues arising in regard to the additional rules and regulations that had to be made in respect of the legislation and to fulfil a promise I made at the time of its enactment. It was an enormous piece of legislation and it was inevitable once it was up and running that certain issues would arise in practice that could create technical difficulties. As members will be aware, we have moved with great speed to address any issue that arose in the workings of the legislation. That, of course, has taken up the time of the Parliamentary Counsel. I am personally frustrated this legislation has not been fully enacted and enforced by now and I empathise with Deputy Mac Lochlainn's frustration.

The Deputy knows well from dealing with me that if I say we will come back to an issue and address it, we do so. The focus is on having legislation completed, with any changes required to ensure we have the best possible legislation and to iron out any glitches or issues that need it. That is my purpose in saying we will come back to this and to section 17 on Report Stage.