Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to express my disappointment. I admire the Minister of State but it is disappointing the Minister for Justice and Equality is not in the Chamber. I came in twice, on different days, while the Bill was being debated and the Minister was not present. I have made point during Leaders' Questions that the manner in which the Government is dealing with challenges at the legislative level since last summer leaves a lot to be desired. It is a case of kicking the can down the road and not tackling things and doing things as they should be done. This was a wonderful opportunity to put things right but, sadly, it is starting to look like the Government does not want to change much before the next election.

I recognise that this is not the fault of the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, but it is disappointing that the Government is not taking proactive positions in a range of areas too numerous to mention. A number of question marks hang over the Bill. If an independent policing authority is to be introduced some time this year, we will end up scrapping much of what is contained in this Bill. I do not understand why the Government decided against preparing one big Bill to deal with the independent Garda Authority at the same time. That would have made much more sense.

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