Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

The Government cannot oppose the Bill because it agrees with it. Everything we have seen in the House in the past two days has been nothing more than political shadow boxing.

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform agree with the thrust of this Bill. They know it makes sense. I accept they might have problems with the detail contained in it — one cannot please all of the people all of the time — but that is why we have committees of the House.

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