Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for accepting some of our amendments. I thank all those who contributed in one way or another on both sides of the House to this important and topical legislation. It was unfortunate the Bill had to come into the House in a truncated version because events were unfolding. It would be better practice in future to anticipate the full scope intended in this legislation. It would be far better from the Minister's point of view and from the point of view of those discussing the Bill to bring it into the House in that fashion. It is very difficult to discuss a Bill when one has not seen the full version of it and one must table amendments to something that one has not seen. It is like boxing in the dark, which is a very difficult process and a very dangerous practice. Notwithstanding the fact that he did not, in a wave of collegiality at the end, embrace our amendments in a welter of enthusiasm, we will forgive the Minister. We hope the Bill will do the job it was intended to do and I thank the Minister.

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