Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)

Yesterday at the outset of the debate I welcomed the fact that the motion to instruct the committee was tabled and debated on the basis that it allows the principle of the new amendments to be discussed in a debate similar to that on Second Stage. The debate that took place reinforces the view that whenever the scope of a Bill is to be significantly broadened, the House should be given the opportunity to have a debate similar to a debate on Second Stage as a matter of course.

In future it may not always be the case that a motion to instruct would be sufficient to capture adequately all new principles proposed in the new amendments and a new Bill may be warranted. The Chair will be examining future motions to instruct, including those that may be put forward as notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders motions, with a view to ensuring the House would always have the opportunity to debate the principle underlying significant changes to a Bill, whether by way of a motion to instruct or in a new Bill as the case may be. This would ultimately be of benefit to the House generally and I trust the Members will see it in this light.

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