Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

The issue we are discussing today is the most serious matter to come before this House since I was elected a Member. The handling of the issue by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the most incompetent that I have witnessed since I became a Member.

I do not believe the Minister, for a number of reasons, when he states that he was not aware of the issue. The matter has been before the courts for a number of years. As a senior counsel, a former Attorney General and the current Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, he had to know that this was not a trivial matter, such as not having a light on one's bicycle. This was a case to test the constitutionality of a specific law.

The Minister had to be aware that a case was being taken. He is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and it is his job to know. The Minister wrote an article on the issue himself for the Irish Independent in 1995. Is he now stating he is suffering from amnesia?

The action we are being forced into today as a result of the Minister's lack of preparedness will probably result in many more innocent victims like those going through a nightmare at present because of this debacle. There will be suffering because we do not have time to give this legislation full consideration.

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