Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I did not make any attempt to interrupt the Minister. The script the Minister put before the House is titled as a speech by the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Barry Andrews. The Minister had no intention of coming in here but I am pleased he did. The Ceann Comhairle referred to the fact that any Minister or Minister of State was entitled to move any resolution on behalf of the Government. That may be the case but this Act is one of the most important pieces of counter-terrorism legislation the State has ever enacted and the House has ever discussed. Resolutions of this type are of fundamental importance, but the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decided to pull a stroke and go to a hotel to hold a press conference, leaving the Minister of State with responsibility for children in the hapless position of having to bring this resolution before the House. I am pleased——

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