Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The debate has been unusual in that we recommitted most of the Bill and debated it on Committee Stage a second time. There were areas that were not touched upon and, as a result, amendments I have tabled on Report Stage have been ruled out of order. Is there any way to discuss them because if we get to the issue of detention periods, an issue we did not cover, only the Minister's proposals can be examined? We cannot discuss particular amendments and I regret that. It is ironic because many of the amendments we will make to the Bill are ministerial amendments that would not have been there if the original timeframe had been adopted. There is merit in giving sufficient time for these matters to be discussed. I have no difficulty in accepting these amendments.

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