Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

The Minister of State was busy during the sos putting together that tome he has just delivered to the House. None of us on this side of the House said one bad word against the European Union. We are in favour of the European Union, which we strongly support. It ill-behoves the Minister of State to try to paint us as opponents of the European Union.

Our concern is that, because we support the European Union, we want to ensure that we get this legislation right so that others who do not support the European Union cannot use the legislation to undermine our position and the good work of the European Union. If proper channels of accountability are to be bypassed by means of this legislation, we are not doing a good day's work. This is our concern and we pointed out what we consider to be the unacceptable aspects of the legislation. It confers on the Minister a power which up to this has never been conferred on any Minister in the history of this House. It allows a Minister to alter and amend a directive or legislation and present it to the House as a final product which must be obeyed under severe penalty by every citizen of the State. The penalties are not summary but indictable penalties. This has never happened before and it would be a bad day's work if this House were to rubber-stamp it.

The Opposition wants to ensure that the European Union has a future and will not be undermined by Eurosceptics because we have left the gate open here. Deputy Allen is Chairman of the Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny. This legislation should be properly processed through this House so that citizens recognise we are not undermining the House by means of European legislation.

See this speech in context