Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Howlin is quite correct. It is important legislation. My Department has been progressing matters in recent months. I acknowledge the importance and the assistance of the Deputy's Private Members' Bill - one of more than 20 Private Members' Bills on my desk in the Department.

Rather than engage in any action that might be seen to be doubling up, yesterday I recommended to my Government colleagues that we would accept the content of Deputy Howlin's Bill and use that as a platform for legislation. I would be very happy to engage directly with Deputy Howlin. I ask him to accept, perhaps, that his Bill is not perfect-----

See this speech in context