Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008, which is 141 pages long, was published yesterday. Given that it was acknowledged a moment ago that two weeks are conventionally afforded to Deputies to review new Bills, why is the Government considering the introduction of this legislation next week? I urge the Taoiseach to ensure that the conventional two-week period, at least, is made available to Deputies to consider the implications of the Bill. Such a timeframe is necessary if Members are to have an opportunity to take submissions, for example. Many people will wish to make submissions on the considerable changes being proposed in this legislation. It is not an administrative Bill — it is a Bill that fundamentally changes jurisprudence in a number of areas and many aspects of human rights law. It creates new procedures for detention and new sanctions in the legal profession. Each of these measures requires the widest consultation with the bodies involved, without undue delay. It seems extraordinary that the convention of allowing two weeks for consideration is not being adhered to in the case of a 141-page Bill.

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