Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)

The question of the exclusion of services from the Government's occupied territories Bill lite has been a central issue of debate in this House and in public since it was announced in the programme for Government. In response to questions from me and others, the Taoiseach regularly cited legal advice that he had received for the exclusion of services. In a recent response to questions in the House, the Tánaiste confirmed that he is only now seeking the advice of the Attorney General on the question of excluding services. The Government asks the Opposition to set aside Senator Frances Black's Bill, a Bill that is so close to completion, and get behind its own draft, which would take months to pass. How can we take the Government's commitment to this legislation seriously when it was only after pressure in the Dáil that the Tánaiste agreed to seek the Attorney General's advice on the issue of services, which is the central legal and political issue about this legislation?

See this speech in context