Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)

In the Official Report, 28 March 2006, vol. 617, col. 62, while I welcomed a single debate on the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, I indicated to the House that when new matter is introduced to a Bill by amendments wider than the scope of the Bill as passed on Second Stage, the House should be given the opportunity to debate the principles underlying the amendments. Therefore, I welcome the fact that this motion will today be debated in the House. As this issue concerns an important point of principle from a parliamentary perspective and the present arrangement for this debate is ad hoc, it is my view that the position should be regularised by an appropriate amendment to Standing Orders as Members may see fit.

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