Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It is encouraging and positive to see Private Members' time being taken up with proposed legislation, albeit legislation devised by the Law Reform Commission. It is fitting that Private Members' time should be used in this way given that we are primarily a legislative body. While motions have their uses from time to time, this is the best use of Private Members' time.

Deputy Timmins observed in his introduction that the legislation he is proposing is not to address any specific problems that have arisen but rather to avoid such problems in the future. It is a stitch in time saves nine approach. That type of anticipatory legislation is to be welcomed. On the other hand, it is also the case that we have time to get this right. We should not stand on ceremony and demand that it is my way or no way. The Law Reform Commission was asked by the Government to look at the considerations that must be borne in mind in the preparation of legislation, and it has done that. As the Minister outlined, there is a specific time pressure in terms of getting the relevant Government legislation, the civil law miscellaneous provisions Bill, onto the Statute Book.

I do not wish to give advice to Deputy Timmins, who is an experienced parliamentarian, but it is an achievement for any Opposition Deputy to have legislation he or she has brought forward, or the principle of that legislation, accepted by the Government.

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