Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Okay. That is fair enough.

I have made my point. It is unprecedented and outrageous. Many Ministers receive amendments. We put a huge amount of work into our amendments and we engaged through all of it. Unfortunately we were disadvantaged by the fact that the justice committee was scheduled for a date and time at which all the Opposition made clear we could not make it. The committee still went ahead with only Government members present and the amendments we could not move that day have not been allowed on Report Stage. The way the Opposition has been treated in respect of this legislation since Second Stage is unprecedented and outrageous. That is why we are going to call a vote on every single amendment and take as long as we can to get this Bill through until the Minister comes back next week and engages with us seriously. It is an insult how we have been treated regarding this. It is also an insult to the many fine people who have been making submissions to the justice committee, who have attended various seminars and given their expert opinion. It is not just us, as Opposition spokespersons, but also those outside who have given their contributions. That is my contribution. I appreciate the Acting Chairman's intervention and his guidance is accepted.

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