Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Labour Party opposes the proposal also. To provide 90 minutes at most to take 123 amendments, most of which have been tabled by the Minister, is to fail to provide an adequate opportunity to debate them. Never in the history of Dáil Éireann has the passage from Opposition to Government wrought so great a transformation on a Deputy as it has in the case of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I hope sincerely that he will not persist in trampling on the right of the House to scrutinise legislation.

If the Minister wishes to find a solution, I draw his attention to the fact that three hours have been provided for debate on the Defence Bill. There is no reason we cannot extend the time for consideration of Report Stage of the Building Control Bill into some of the time set aside to take the Defence Bill. Why should there be a guillotine this evening on the Defence Bill when we could resume its consideration at a time when the Minister for Defence is available to attend the House? He is otherwise engaged today. I ask the Minister to offer additional time to consider the Building Control Bill.

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