Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, have listened to the Minister for Justice and Equality. I understand the predicament he is in and I thank him for his clarifications, especially those on why the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport cannot be here and on how he disagrees with his colleague. That is healthy in any democracy. Nonetheless, I am still very concerned. We are in uncharted waters and there are too many anomalies. While I do not want to disrespect the Ceann Comhairle in any way in regard to what he suggested, I believe the most honourable and respectful course of action for the Minister and the Government would be to withdraw the Bill at this time. As Deputy O'Callaghan said, there are three options. The second is to do as the Ceann Comhairle said and the third is to do what we did with Deputy Mick Wallace's amendment No. 7a last night. It is very strange territory, particularly given the genesis of the Bill. I also acknowledge the work done by the justice committee in regard to amendments. The spectacle here last night was totally unsavoury and while I am not blaming anyone for that, there was utter confusion. Although the Minister for Justice and Equality is responsible for marching the Bill through the Houses, the Minister who designed it, and who has got his paw marks and fingerprints all over it, is as láthair - absent. I am sure he is up in his office watching this in order to know what we are saying about it, but he is now like an absentee landlord from the hills of Killiney. He is out there like the lord of the manor.

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