Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The spectacle of Ministers simply following instructions to read out a prepared script and not making decisions is becoming tedious. Although the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has many weaknesses, he listens to alternative viewpoints and changes his mind when such viewpoints are reasonable. It is pointless dealing with the Minister of State if he is not prepared to listen to alternative viewpoints. It is not a good way to make law and wastes the time of the House. We might as well rubber-stamp the Bill without bothering to move amendments.

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