David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Flood. The format followed by the Oireachtas involves pre-legislative scrutiny, in that, before Bills are properly published, their heads must be laid before committees such as this one for examination and so that members of the public, NGOs and experts can give their points of view and engage. We have done this with 11 Bills so far. It is a productive and useful process and proposals emanating from the Department have often been changed significantly because of it. As such, no decisions have been made on this Bill yet and will not be until we are finished with our deliberations.