John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle said specifically that amendment No. 7a, in the name of Deputy Wallace, could not be addressed, that the Ceann Comhairle had made a ruling and we are where we are. The confusion still exists, however. We are still discussing a Bill and amendments without knowing whether there are to be 13 or 17 members of the commission. We do not know if the Attorney General is to be a member of the commission but the Minister realistically and honestly expects us to conclude the Bill. There is another option and it is still available, even if amendment No. 7a is not.

The option is still there for the Minister to withdraw the Bill. It could then be reintroduced. That would be the cleanest, most honest and most direct thing to do rather than discussing a Bill where the central part - the establishment of the commission - is so confused. The attempt to conclude the remainder of it is a mistake. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, still has the option to withdraw this Bill.

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