Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

There are many amendments in this group. We are approaching the 7 o'clock bell. In general, I welcome these proposals. However, I join Deputy Ferris in criticising on a number of grounds the means by which this is being done. I object to major broadcasting legislation being stuck in as an addendum to a postal communications Bill. I was never happy when we did it in government because it is bad practice.

The second issue is that it is becoming all too common here in the House that major changes are being made to Bills on Report Stage. It is not as if this is something urgent that came to light at the last moment. This was decided on 8 December last, it was well flagged and there was plenty of time to get these sections ready to put into the Bill when the Dáil convened after the election and when we started this session and started this Bill.

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