Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I commend Deputies Perry and Broughan on tabling the amendments on Committee Stage and the Minister of State on accepting the argument made and deleting a section which, as Deputy Broughan clearly said, would have been in contravention of the recent Supreme Court decision. However, it raises questions about the nature of the legislative process in that a Bill drafted seven or eight years ago is only reaching Report Stage now.

That is a problem in that as constitutional arrangements change such sections become out of date, even though they have not yet been implemented. It raises questions about how we allow our business to be ordered such that it takes so long for a Bill to proceed from initial drafting to Report Stage. However, I welcome the Minister's amendment.

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