Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

It is regrettable that we are so soon moving into the guillotining of legislation. Many Members who did not get a chance to speak on Second Stage will attend Committee Stage, for which only one day is scheduled next week, to make their Second Stage contributions. Effectively, Committee Stage will never reach any of the substantive amendments or individual provisions in the Bill. The quality of the debate will be dramatically curtailed. We should not have this approach to the legislation. There would be some understanding on this side of the House if the Minister found agreement to ensure proper time given for debating each element of the Bill. Today's order, however, will be just a straightforward guillotine that will curtail debate which is inappropriate.

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