Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

These are reasonably complex measures that the Minister is requiring us to refer to committee on Wednesday next and return to the House the following day. The Government is in possession of some of these tor three months. If we take, for example, the first one, the note says that the three-month period in respect of these proposals will expire on 12 April. Therefore, the Minister has been sitting on it for three months, yet now seeks to have it referred to committee next Wednesday and expects it back in the House the following day. This is part of a pattern in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and is not acceptable. It is not the way we should treat instruments such as this which have to be approved by the House.

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