Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is treading on slightly dangerous ground tonight and using the Whip on his colleagues is also putting them on dangerous ground. As Deputy Howlin has outlined, there is a process here for bringing this type of legislation into being and it has not been followed in this case. This is a very late amendment to be bringing to the House, throwing in front of people and saying that the Government is happy with it, that the agency wants it and that it has been scrutinised sufficiently to go ahead. I disagree. The Minister of State should heed the words of the House and withdraw this and bring it back when we have had a proper chance to look at it. The Government is putting people in an unenviable position, to be frank. If this turns out to be bad law, there will be a lot of ramifications for the Minister of State and for others. I ask him to withdraw it.

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