Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I appreciate all the work that everyone has put into this Bill, including the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Chairman is here, as are many of the members who have been heavily involved in this Bill as it was brought forward and was being produced. We have had extensive input into it. There is no truncation of the Second Stage process at all. I do not intend to read every single section but I intend to provide a good outline and overview of it. Second Stage will run into next week as well, as will Committee Stage, and the full process of both the Dáil and the Seanad will be used. We are in no way, shape or form rushing what is really important legislation. The time of the Houses is best served to listen to Second Stage speeches. There was a briefing held again today by officials. Deputy O'Callaghan was there as well. There will be further briefing for the joint committee. This is the third largest piece of legislation since the State was founded and I will give a good overview in the House today. We will take feedback from Members. We want people to engage on this constructively as people have heretofore. I do not see that there is any truncation of the process at all, to be honest.

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