Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand an extensive number of amendments have been submitted. As many of them are connected to each other, they have, therefore, been grouped. Amendments can be discussed individually or in groups and can be voted on in groups. Therefore, I am not sure of the point being made by Deputy Micheál Martin. Very few Bills in the past 40 years have been subject to such extensive discussion, consultation and debate in the House. I suggest to the Deputy that what he should do is allow the procedure proposed to get under way. I understand many of the amendments will be dealt with very quickly, but I cannot predict the future in that sense.

I suggest to Deputy Martin that, while we take into account what he and Deputy Adams have said, we let the process start and see how it runs. I have no objection to extending the time again tonight, if that is necessary. We want this dealt with because we have set targets for individual pieces of legislation, and this has drifted for quite a long time. There has been very extensive consultation about it. The House was to rise at 10 p.m. and we have extended that for a further two hours so groups of these amendments can be dealt with. I suggest that we let the process commence and see how that works and how far we get. I do not have any difficulty in dealing with it for a further period but I am going to get rid of it tonight.

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