Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

It is time the Government took the House seriously. We will go through a charade this afternoon. Two members of the Government are no longer with us and we would have more success were we to have a live link with the paddocks at Cheltenham. It is most unfair to Members that the Minister and Minister of State responsible for this legislation will not come before the House today. A Minister with no responsibility for the legislation will come here to defend it. It is utterly wrong that this procedure should be upheld.