Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

The Ceann Comhairle made a statement, which has gone on the public record, that once a Bill has passed Second Stage certain things are forbidden to happen on Committee Stage. That is a dangerous principle because a wide interpretation can be taken on what one can or cannot put down.

If Second Stage is to establish a very tight principle that will be judged by the Chair, it can rule out many amendments in the future. I dispute the contention that when we voted on Second Stage we accepted a principle in a Bill which does not specify that principle. We voted on Second Stage that the Bill proceed to Committee Stage. We did not vote a principle on Second Stage. For future reference, if someone refers to the Ceann Comhairle's statement on this day at this time, it could have serious consequences for future amendments to other legislation.

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