Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear that. Maybe it was just the Labour Party influence in government just less than a year ago that resulted in a Cabinet decision not to support the amendments. The Bill is a positive step forward; there is no doubt about that.

There is no automatic requirement for any legislation to be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. I acknowledge there are issues with the Bill. I believe they are minor but they require amendment, as in the case of local and European elections and the ballot box having to be available at a certain time the following day. Those matters can be dealt with on Committee Stage. The Bill is short and focused and I am sure it has universal support here. Tying up a committee with pre-legislative scrutiny is not warranted in this case. One never knows but that there could be an election before the Minister or Deputy Ó Cuív desires. My intention is to make sure the people Gola, Toraigh, Inishfree, Inis Bó Finne and Aranmore not only vote for me but do so on the same day as the rest of the people, those on the mainland, vote for me.

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