Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

My objection was to the grouping of the motions and not solely to No. 15. I concur with Deputy Shatter that grouping together various issues in motions taken without debate makes it difficult for us to put our points across. We are expected to vote for a range of issues without debate. Two of these issues come from committees.

I have a problem with the referral to joint committee of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 for approval because this is a matter which we have agreed should be debated in the Dáil. I seek a commitment from the Tánaiste that it will be debated in this House when it returns from committee. The matter concerns the suspension of certain rights of people arrested in connection with gangland crimes. I ask the Tánaiste to make a similar commitment to that which she gave on No. 15 so that we can debate the matter in the House. At least we will be debating the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.

We should have debated Nos. 12 and 13 in the Dáil and not only in committee because Deputies cannot attend every committee. As Deputy Shatter noted, the issues arising should be discussed by the entire House rather than in committees.

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