Dáil debates

Wednesday, 14 December 2005

Private Members' Business.

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages.

7:00 pm

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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As there are no amendments on Report Stage, we will proceed to Fifth Stage in accordance with the Order of the Dáil.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I again record my appreciation of the Minister for facilitating the speedy passage of this Bill. There is a pressing humanitarian reason I sponsored the Bill. I am aware that the family concerned is very grateful to the Minister also and to his officials for doing something we do not do too frequently in this House, that is, put through legislation with this speed, and it is greatly appreciated by all concerned. I am glad the Bill can be dealt with in the other House tomorrow.

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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As somebody who has often given out about the way this House does its business, I must say I am very impressed that this Bill could be taken last night and tonight for the right reasons. The Nowlan family will certainly appreciate that but in general it proves that this House can function extremely well when its Members want it to, and there is no reason that cannot happen more often. An example has been set. I commend Deputy Rabbitte and Deputy Costello for bringing forward the Bill and I thank the Minister for giving us an opportunity to prove that we can do business in this House speedily when we want to. It is an example of democracy at work, and I welcome it.

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to be associated with the remarks of other Deputies. I commend my constituency colleague, Deputy Rabbitte, and Deputy Costello on the manner in which the House has dealt with this business. We have all praised the work of the Minister. I said last night that the family, whom I am glad to see in the Visitors Gallery again this evening, appreciates what the Minister did and the manner in which he met them and listened to what they had to say. We should commend the family, Jean and Stephen Nowlan, the parents of baby Pierce, and Phyllis, his paternal grandmother, and wish them well. They have witnessed history here. Other colleagues made the point that they brought all the parties in the Dáil together, which is a significant achievement, but they have done much more than that. I said last night, and I hope it is true, that the passage of this Bill will stand as a memorial to Pierce Nowlan. We must not forget that it is about him.

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I want to be associated with the remarks of the other Deputies. It is welcome that this Bill could be dealt with in the way in which we have dealt with it. I have no doubt there are people looking with slitty eyes on tonight's proceedings and saying that this is a precedent which should never have been created, but so be it.