Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----but her words have serious meaning. The kernel of what I am saying is that we want more time. We, as a Parliament, deserve the respect of being given more time on this issue. We set up the pre-legislative scrutiny structure. It is the appropriate mechanism, through the committee, to examine these issues further. We have been disrespected in that regard as a result of the desire to meet the deadline, which has been - I will again choose my words carefully - ridiculed by people in this House, of International Women's Day. It has been referred to as a paternalistic move, with the State being paternalistic as usual.

I wish to refer to the Irish text. I have little proficiency in the Irish language but my understanding is that the Irish-language text has precedence over the English-language text, in terms of how the courts might interpret the legislation.

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