Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

One must welcome what amounts to a tacit acceptance on the part of Government that the methodology or approach of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is anti-democratic and unacceptable in terms of legislation. This is not the first example of the approach he has employed, which has resulted in more than 200 amendments across substantive legislation that has only 38 sections.

A situation arises whereby what is proposed does not amount to a recommital. I am not sure whether there are precedents for the methodology employed in terms of a revisitation by motion of the Second Stage content of the now to be amended legislation. It should have been recommitted. Substantially more time should have been provided, not only for Members in this House but for the many interested and concerned parties in civic society who are also concerned and taking time to consider what the Minister now proposes.

The Human Rights Commission is among those parties which have been in contact with the Minister's office to reflect that they find the process most unsatisfactory. It does not allow time inside or outside the House for external or internal appraisal of what is involved. There was less than 24 hours from the provision of an explanation on the new sections by the Minister's Department to the various spokespersons receiving the detail last evening, which leaves inadequate time to prepare. I hope the Taoiseach will take on board this point. There is tacit acceptance that the Minister's approach is not appropriate and needs to be revisited. I hope we will never see a repetition of this approach in future legislation and that the lesson is well learned.

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