Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Leader's announcement. It is clear the Government side has accepted the strenuous arguments the Opposition has been making about the procedure of the House, specifically the fact that an Oireachtas committee would be discussing a Bill at the same time as the Seanad. I am glad the Leader has drawn back from the brink and accepted arguments from this side of the House and that we will take Report Stage of this important Bill next week.

If one read The Irish Times this morning or heard Deputy Fleming on the radio, it appears the Government is now considering amendments. Will the Leader provide an assurance that those amendments will be circulated to Members as soon as possible, either at the weekend or by Monday at the latest? In addition, will the sponsoring Minister, Deputy McCreevy, take Report Stage in the House and engage in the meaningful debate we have been seeking? We welcome this belated U-turn by the Government. I know it was done in the right way by the Leader and we appreciate that.

I am sure the House joins me in condemning utterly the appalling assassination yesterday of the Serbian Prime Minister, Mr. Djindjic. With President Kostunica, he represented a new, democratic Serbia which could be re-integrated with Europe. This was an appalling act. All democrats and right-minded people across Europe should condemn it and join the people of Serbia in ensuring the freedom and democracy they won against the appalling tyranny of Milosevic will hold in the future.