Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Some 73 amendments are proposed to the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. Although we are talking about Second Stage, this gives some illustration of the range of issues that need to be articulated on Second Stage. There is a lot of interest across the House in this Bill and a lot of concern across the country, particularly in terms of septic tank charges. All of those issues need to be teased out and adequately debated in this House, which is the function of the House in regard to legislation. The time that has been allocated is not acceptable and not adequate. I ask the Taoiseach to reconsider this guillotine with a view to facilitating more time on Second Stage of the Bill.

See this speech in context