Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am delighted to get the opportunity to contribute for two minutes.

This is a holy mess and, to be honest, everyone in the country knows it is a holy mess. They were all talking about it last night. It is not of the Minister's making but, sadly, the finger will be pointed at him and as Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said, he can be damn sure the Minister, Deputy Ross, will be writing about him in a very short period of time. This mess is in the hands of the Minister, Deputy Ross, and he is not here to explain himself. He is hiding. This is an astonishing situation. To be honest, it is embarrassing and confusing in light of the fact that the Bill now has to go back to the Seanad. When we first debated this Bill a number of months ago, a vote was called. It was a Thursday. I remember that I voted a certain way and rushed back to a committee I am involved in, the Schull show committee. I got a text from the Minister, Deputy Ross, that night. I have no problem getting a text from the Minister. I am delighted to get a text from a Minister and I am easily able to text back. He was surprised at me that I voted in a certain direction and I told him that the Bill was confusing. I told him at that time that it was going in a direction that does not make any sense. I am only a young garsún inside here in the Dáil, and most people might say with very little understanding, but I knew at that time we were going in a certain direction that did not make any sense to me, as naive as I thought I was. However, it turns out that I was 100% correct in my assertion at the time.

I plead with the Minister to withdraw the Bill and throw it in the bin. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is the cause of what is nothing short of filibustering. He is using delaying tactics that are costing the State money and costing public representatives their time and energy in this House. He should come in here, explain his carry-on and the errors he has committed regarding this Bill. I ask the Minister please to give serious consideration to binning the Bill and let us get back to putting it right. He should talk to the Minister, Deputy Ross, and get him to bin other Bills also that are the cause of hardship and misery in this country.

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