Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I thank the Minister and all Members who contributed in the previous three hours of debate. The debate has been constructive. I am heartened by the support from Members in my group, on the Fianna Fáil benches, Sinn Féin, other Independents and especially the Minister's own backbenches. The Minister seems to have a problem with what was said and that I am making things up to be colourful. He referred to the Bill as a decorative one. I resent that. During the debate I received an e-mail which states:

Dear Mr. McGrath, I write to you on behalf of a group representing telecommunications operators in Ireland. The group includes Three, Vodafone, O2, Meteor, RTÉ, TETRA Ireland [which is very important as it relates to the emergency services], the ESB and telecoms. The group has also received submissions from the Irish Aviation Authority, the Defence Forces, Camp East-West ambulance services, Imagine Broadband, Digiweb and Airspeed.

I could read what the groups have to say, but they are very concerned for the safety of the public and the security of the State.

The Minister must wake up and listen to what is being said. It is not Mattie McGrath's Bill. The Minister must listen to his backbenchers. When I introduced the Bill, I admitted that it was not a perfect document. I am disappointed with the Minister's comments on the Bill. I am a relatively new Deputy. I am a Member for approximately four years.

I acknowledged that the Government has made provision for Friday sittings of the Dáil. The Minister has the entire power of his Department to research matters. I am aghast at the Minister on the basis of written replies he made to parliamentary questions recently. He said he was surprised that I did not bother to check the 1964 Pawnbrokers Act. I asked a parliamentary question of the Minister, which is a fundamental right of Members of this House, and he never mentioned the Pawnbrokers Act 1964 in his glossy reply.

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