Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I hope my comments live up to Senator White's expectations, although I suspect not as the debate progresses. I welcome the intervention by Senator Maurice Hayes, a former Ombudsman in Northern Ireland and a distinguished member of the Oireachtas SMI committee. The Government would do well to note what he said, especially his view that the Bill is badly thought out and is being rushed through the House. There have also been excellent contributions by Senators on all sides of the House.

Nobody wants to be here until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m., but the Opposition has been forced to take this procedure because the Government decided to complete Second Stage today. It would not be necessary to sit late had the debate been extended over the following two days. Nobody wants to detain the staff of the House or the Minister of State and his staff until the early hours of the morning, but it is being done because of the Government's decision effectively to guillotine Second Stage.