Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is unsatisfactory to provide this kind of information in this way. It is unfair to me, Deputy Shortall and other speakers who must pick it up off the cuff. It is unfair that we did not have this information before now. It is unsatisfactory and I am unhappy with the way the legislation has been handled. In dealing with every other Bill that has come before the House, we got briefings from officials. In addition, we were able to do research and could thus put time and effort into responding to the Government's proposals.

This is not satisfactory. I am disappointed because I do not like what is being put before us. I hope this will never happen again and that no Government will use its mandate to push through legislation at the eleventh hour of a Dáil session and the end of a Government's term in office. It is wrong to do so. We should be able to sit down with the Minister, as we did on Committee Stage, and discuss amendments. We may or not reach agreement on them, but at least we were able to discuss them.

The Minister is talking about sovereign annuities and associated bonds, but I know nothing about them. This legislation is being forced upon us and we are only now being told what is happening. I will not pretend that I understand it, because I do not; even my researchers did not have time to work on it. It is both unsatisfactory and unfair, and it is not good legislation. It is not good for the House or the Oireachtas generally.

A new section has been introduced concerning public office holders. I am glad to see that where some people, such as judges, are not making voluntary contributions, they will be caught in relation to this. Deputies and Ministers will also be making their contributions in this regard, and rightly so. Last week, we saw major cuts for the blind, carers, the disabled and others on social welfare payments. It is only right, therefore, that judges and every Member of the Oireachtas, including Ministers and Deputies, should also take their fair share of cuts.

The civil partnership legislation, which covers a complex subject, has gone through the House. We should have had more time to research the subject, however, to see what is being proposed in the legislation before us in that regard. What effect will it have on cohabiting couples and same-sex relationships?

It is wrong to bring this Bill before us at the eleventh hour. It is not a good way to do business and neither does it make for good legislation. I am disappointed to be back on Committee Stage and unable to discuss the Bill. We have already discussed the earlier Stages of this Bill. We went on to discuss the measure that will oblige landlords whose tenants are in receipt of rent allowance to register from 1 January next. That is a good measure.

I am not supportive of people who come into the country and can be certified by telephone. I cannot and will not support that. We discussed the public service card at length in the select committee. The Minister undertook to return to this matter on Report Stage and explain exactly what was being proposed by the Department. We need this kind of security.

I waited for the Minister's explanation of the €20 million finger-printing machine that is lying idle. Has the Minister or the Minister for Finance had discussions with staff to see when that very expensive piece of equipment will be up and running to stop fraudsters coming in and out of the country? We should finger-print them when they come in and when they go out, so that we know if they are drawing social welfare benefits in every other European country. Has the Minister discussed this matter with the Ministers for Finance or Justice and Law Reform or with the unions to resolve this serious problem? It is a terrible thing to have an expensive piece of equipment and nothing being done with it.

I am disappointed that I did not know more about these amendments. It is difficult to discuss amendments one was handed an hour ago. This is not the way for legislators to do their business.

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