Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I take my responsibility in terms of scrutinising the Bill and the amendments very seriously. While the overall thrust of the amendments is welcome, as are most of the measures, there is a flaw in what is being put forward in terms of the provision of a seven-day limit rather than 21 days. That will be unworkable for many people. It may be an unintended flaw in these amendments. I do not know if that is the case because no rationale whatsoever has been given for it. We have been given no information on it or why that limit was arrived at. It makes me wonder whether the intention is to make it unworkable in order to reduce the number of disputes that go to the RTB. That may not be the case, but I am completely in the dark as to why that period has been arrived at. It is legitimate to expect the Government, when it is proposing this change and this seven-day limit, to explain why it believes that is the appropriate amount of time to provide for in the legislation. The approach being taken is not what Parliament is about. When proposals are brought, we raise questions and make criticisms and then get a response. If that is not what it is about in a democracy, what is it about?

See this speech in context