Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)

I am happy to support the amendments. Amendment No. 4 shows how sharp Senator Henry is in spotting the reference to nail clippings. It proves that legislation should not be rushed but given enough time for debate. These two amendments arose at the very end of the discussion on these sections. They are small but detailed amendments and have been accepted only after allowing deliberations. It makes the point about the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the Minister often rushes legislation through. While I am in favour of fast-tracking legislation I am not in favour of it being rushed through to prevent debate. As a lesson, if we need to rush things through in future, it should be with the benefit of extra time in the Dáil, rather than by the use of guillotining. Extra debate should be allowed on Fridays or late on Thursdays. If this Bill had not been guillotined these amendments would not have been necessary and it is important to tease the issues out.

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