Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will close the matter there. This matter will be addressed by the committee in determining how we proceed. The Tánaiste has indicated that we are going to have a further Bill referred to us in the coming week. We will have to decide in joint session as to how we will address both of these matters. I appeal that we do so in a calm and serious way. With respect to the Tánaiste, I am not in any way referencing what she has said here today. This committee prides itself on being a parliamentary committee. We are not a committee of Government and we are certainly not a committee of the Department of Justice and Equality. We are a committee of parliamentarians and we cherish that independence and our representative make-up. That is very important.

The Tánaiste made a point about a two-way street. There is a two-way street here. I remind the Tánaiste and her officials that when the Department of Justice and Equality has been anxious for this committee to address Bills of its own authorship, the committee has been very facilitative, not only prior to the summer recess but, also tomorrow morning, when we convene at 9.00 a.m. in the Dáil Chamber in order to accommodate the Tánaiste's request to address the Courts Bill. We understand and appreciate the importance of it and the consequences of its not being addressed on Committee Stage or its being delayed. This committee has been very co-operative and that is the spirit that will maintain. However, to reference the Tánaiste's own remarks, it is a two-way street.

That is the closing comment on this matter.