Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a newly elected Deputy, I apologise if I am not 100% accurate about the flow of the process. To listen to the righteous indignation of some Deputies, one would swear we are never going to consider this legislation again. Am I not right in understanding that at some point soon we can carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of Deputy O'Callaghan's Bill and maybe of a Government Bill too? Surely it is important to get the work of the committee right rather than rush along according to a timetable orchestrated in a way I cannot fathom but that does not seem to have anything to do with getting the work right. The Bill is so deeply flawed in so many ways that pre-legislative scrutiny was probably essential. It was regrettable that it did not happen. I understand why it was decided not to have it but the grounds for that no longer apply. If there is an opportunity to get the process right it is better to do that. The delay is not inordinate. It would be better to concentrate on our role than to focus on what Minister is doing what. If Deputies have prepared amendments, the work is done and the benefit will come to the committee when it gets an opportunity.

There has been tremendous cross-party co-operation and continuing that kind of co-operation would be much more effective than going down a route that might make the committee work less effectively or coherently. Deputy Daly recently agreed to pre-legislative scrutiny of a Bill. I look forward to this Bill coming back for pre-legislative scrutiny and Committee Stage.