Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I raised this issue last year. I know there was a different Minister for Justice and Equality at the time. There is a legal requirement on the Act because this is a fundamental constitutional shift. I know it is due to be taken today but I am saying it should not be taken today. We need some debate in this House. Under the Act, a report is to be presented but it is not a report. A tokenistic four pages are presented that say nothing in substance. We need a proper debate on this matter, possibly next year if we cannot do it this year, so that we will not face a situation where there is a legal imperative to pass it and where there will be some chance for the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality to properly look into these matters to ensure that we do not face a situation where the Act itself could be challenged in court.

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