Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I am pleased that this legislation has passed all Stages in this House. I noted a significant level of co-operation and constraint on this side of the House to ensure this happened. I was tempted to call a vote at one stage but we wanted to see it dealt with and I am pleased it has been. A phrase used in Louth and Meath would accurately describe the Bill as being middling enough legislation which could have been much better. Issues such as paternity leave should have been dealt with in this Bill. A number of Opposition amendments would have improved the Bill significantly. Like my colleagues, I hope we will be in a position, sooner rather than later, to move those amendments and ensure they are included to improve the legislation at a later date.

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