Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

The explanatory memorandum was left on a table – I do not know when – to be picked up by Senators as they entered the Chamber. What benefit is it to us to receive such an important document when entering the House? It would have been helpful if we had been given it in time to study it. If the Minister believes he is fulfilling his obligations by providing us with information as we come through the door, he is not doing justice to himself or Members of the House. As I said, it is a shoddy way to deal with important legislation of this kind and shows a lack of respect for democracy.

I will deal briefly with a couple of the amendments. Amendment No. 26, a comprehensive proposal which runs to five pages, proposes to introduce a new section to allow the Garda Síochána or immigration officers to arrest and detain non-nationals who have been here illegally for more than three months.