Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The debate on this Bill has been constructive up to this point. The Fine Gael spokesperson, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, and Deputy Howlin on behalf of the Labour Party have engaged in a considered debate. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has taken into account several of the relevant points raised by Deputies from these and other parties.

However, we have only reached amendment No. 104 out of a total of 171 amendments to this important Bill. Debate will resume at section 31, out of a total of 53 sections. One of the sections that remains to be dealt with is that relating to detention. The Tánaiste said on Second Stage that "we must tread carefully when authorising extensions to detention periods". He has pointed out before that he sees what he sees and knows what he knows. This is a fundamental aspect of the Bill and it must be teased out properly and debated thoroughly and fully. However, it will not be reached under today's proposal, which allocates only one hour for the remaining Stages. In keeping with the Tánaiste's observation, this is something that requires much further discussion, not only from a political point of view but also from the perspective of ensuring this legislation is teased out properly and fully understood.

I do not know whether the Tánaiste or Government Whip will agree to allocate additional time today for this debate. In view of the Tánaiste's comments on Second Stage that this is an area in which we must tread carefully, it would be wrong to have the Bill pushed through without including this issue in the recommitted Report Stage debate. The Whip should either offer an amendment to today's Order of Business, bring the House back a week earlier on 17 and 18 April or reschedule this debate for 24 and 25 April.

We do not want a situation where the Government points out the importance of the Bill but does not allow an issue as fundamental as detention to be debated properly. In view of the Minister's own observations on the matter, I make my proposals to him in good faith. This is not the way to proceed. The section on detention will go through without any discussion on the Report Stage recommital. This is not good enough in respect of an issue as fundamentally important as this.

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