Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Is cúis áthais dom bheith ar ais arís le freagra forleathan a thabhairt do na h-oráidí uilig a chualamar inniu, an tseachtain seo caite agus ar feadh coicíse. I thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate.

Given the national importance of our membership of the European Union it is entirely appropriate that both Houses have had a full opportunity to consider in detail the different issues raised by this Bill. I look forward to further debate on Committee Stage at the Select Committee on European Affairs. However, many of the criticisms levelled at this Bill during this debate have been quite unwarranted. The picture painted by Opposition Deputies last week and today of individuals being imprisoned at the whim of Ministers for trivial breaches of EU law, was completely over the top. Ministers are not in the business of fining and imprisoning people——

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