Feargal Quinn (Independent)

While I understand the Minister of State's point, the purpose of the Seanad is to provide Senators with an opportunity to hold Second Stage and Committee Stage debates and to give the relevant Minister sufficient time to consider the points made during the debates before taking Report Stage. If the Minister of State is indicating that he will not have time to give much attention to the contributions of Senators on Committee Stage, the House will sit tomorrow for no reason other than to pass Government amendments. If this proves to be the case and the Minister of State will return to the Seanad only after the Dáil has made amendments, the House will not receive the attention or respect it deserves. The Minister of State should delay Report Stage and return to the House when he has had time to consider our amendments on Committee Stage.