Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

The Minister has been on his feet explaining the amendments for more than 50 minutes. If so much time is required to explain their contents to the House, something is seriously wrong with the Minister's approach. There are 30 amendments running to 32 pages. This is not the first time the Minister has tried to ram through legislation as quickly as this. The practice of putting legislation through the back door in this manner is unacceptable. I remind the Minister that this is a democracy, for which we should have respect, and in a democracy a free debate must take place before any legislative change is enacted. It should also be given sufficient time, which the Minister has not done in this case.

The Minister's approach to dealing with the Bill is appalling. I accept this is important legislation and agree with many of the proposals in the amendments but let us have respect for them and give them the necessary time. To come to this or the other House with amendments of such importance and treat them in such a shoddy fashion is unacceptable in the Oireachtas.

I am disappointed the Minister chose to deal with legislation of this nature in such a fashion. I remind him, as others have done in the Dáil, that during his election campaign he compared the Taoiseach with the former Romanian dictator, Nicolai Ceaucescu, who would have been proud of the Minister's legislative prowess.