Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. That is not what Deputy Higgins was referring to at all. I just want to make a point.

Pre-legislative scrutiny was not denied on this legislation. I could not let that remark go unchecked. There was detailed pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft scheme in the previous Oireachtas that I participated in. Deputy Ó Broin did as well. There were full hearings. Account was taken of the pre-legislative scrutiny to alter this Bill fundamentally on the basis of those hearings. The programme for Government also reflected that clearly. There was no question of pre-legislative scrutiny being denied. Pre-legislative was actually adhered to insofar as the Bill was changed significantly to reflect the points I raised, and indeed Deputy Ó Broin and others such as Deputy Boyd Barrett raised, when the draft scheme was published. If we were to follow what Deputy Ó Broin has said, every Bill that a draft scheme was published for in the previous Oireachtas and that went through pre-legislative scrutiny would have to go through it again. In fairness, Deputy Ó Broin has recognised the fact this is fundamentally different legislation. I could not let that remark stand unchecked.