Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

Before I call the Minister, I again feel obliged to say something. I am agnostic on this legislation, as I am on all legislation, but it is now 6.21 p.m. The note in front of me states that this Bill should continue to be debated until 7.29 p.m., after which it is due to be adjourned. I am about to call the Minister. Why? It is because there is nobody else here to participate in the debate. I do not know what happened in the Seanad, and it does not much interest me what happened there, and I do not know what will happen next week. I do agree that when the Government rushes legislation it takes a big risk. I do not like the use of the guillotine, as I have said frequently. I think it is a bad move when legislation is guillotined but, for God’s sake, I do not think we can blame the Minister or anyone else if an hour before we are due to end a debate which was scheduled to adjourn, there is nobody here to participate.

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