Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the whereabouts of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill. We spent 18 days on Committee Stage with it. If I understand it correctly from something that was said at a recent Whips meeting, which might be inaccurate, the Minister is contemplating some 700 amendments. I do not know if that is true, but if it is the case and it is contemplated that we would have 700 amendments on Report Stage then we would be better off having an immigration (No. 2) Bill. We have already spent 18 days in committee and that is not the way to go about things. I am willing to let the Minister brief the Taoiseach rather than to ask him more questions on it but that is hardly the way to enact legislation.

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