Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Since the debate has been very truncated, I wish to make a few observations. The committee promised by the Minister is necessary but we needed it before he went beyond the 1935 Act.

This morning in response to my statement that after today, it would not be the case that a serious offence had been carried out by an individual, the Minister trenchantly said a serious offence would have been carried out. In a further reply shortly before Committee Stage commenced, the Minister conceded the point and said no offence would have been carried out.

See this speech in context