Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to this debate over the past two days. People may say that only a handful had a chance to air their views but more than 50 — excluding Deputy Naughten, who had only a few minutes at the end — had an opportunity to contribute.

The process which led to the tabling of these amendments has been one of the most transparent in the history of criminal justice legislation. Nearly all these amendments were canvassed by me on Second Stage. I put them before a committee of the House last September, on which occasion I discussed their principle. I also put them before the Human Rights Commission and received the views of that body. They have been available on a website in the Department for God knows how long. Every one of these propositions has been the subject of extensive public debate. The notion that they are coming from nowhere and that I am producing them like rabbits from a hat is simply untrue. While it took longer than I would have wished to bring these amendments before the House, they clearly have been canvassed and debated. The length of time between Second Stage and this motion to amplify the ambit of the committee sessions has been extraordinary by any standard. Second Stage debate took place over a period of six months.

I admire Opposition Deputies because I spent most of my time in politics on the Opposition benches, but they are not consistent in their arguments.

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