John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

It is totally wrong to suggest that the Bill, which will be considered today and which should be debated on Second Stage and not on the Order of Business, is a subversion. I reject that assertion. The Bill was published last week and was discussed a great deal in the press at the weekend. I am sure most people have a particular attitude to the Bill, but I do not believe there is anything a committee could achieve which this House cannot achieve in an open debate. The Leader has allocated a generous 30 minutes per speaker.

It is utterly wrong to suggest that a guillotine is being imposed. The Leader explicitly said that the debate would continue this evening for as long as people wanted to contribute. Furthermore, this is a Seanad Bill and there will be an interval between its passage through this House and its introduction in the Lower House. There will be adequate time for consultation during that period and between today's debate and the taking of Committee Stage here next week. There is nothing unusual in the way the Bill has been published or is being considered. The House will have adequate time to debate its merits and consider amendments to it.

I agree with Senator Brian Hayes in regard to something which is of far more importance, that is, the events taking place in Hillsborough today. I wish the Government and all the parties participating well in their endeavours and I hope there will be a successful outcome which will ensure the peace we have enjoyed in recent years will continue and be enhanced. It is wrong to suggest that the Taoiseach would lecture the parties in Northern Ireland. Even if he were so disposed to do so, I doubt if the parties in Northern Ireland would be prepared to listen to such a lecture.