Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

We have a similar view. Some 32 of the amendments to which Deputy Kenny referred have been tabled by the Minister, highlighting the fact the Bill has been filleted beyond recognition by the Minister, and rightly so, because it was originally misconceived as a PR stunt to be enacted before the summer recess.

The Bill has 52 amendments tabled to it, some of which are very important. Some of them, for example, require patrons of nightclubs to be disgorged on to the streets of Dublin and other cities at the same time, which would put extra pressure on public transport, the emergency services and invite further public disorder. It is important that we have time to adequately tease out these issues. As the Government proposes that Committee, Report and Final Stages be taken together, we will not have that opportunity. We will have reason to rue the day for doing that because there are some hurried ill-considered proposals in the Bill. I ask the Taoiseach, if it is not too late, to give us adequate time to debate them.

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