Mary Henry (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for the courtesy with which he has addressed this Bill. We all hope it will succeed. One big difficulty I pointed out early last week was that it is not even a week since this Bill of 82 sections was published. I know this is not the Leader's fault. We welcome legislation into this House, but we like to go through it thoroughly. I hope that as the Minister of State said, the amendment I tabled will be addressed in the Lower House.

The remarks made by the Minister of State today about suitable qualifications were not very satisfactory. It was said to me once again that my amendment was tabled only yesterday evening when it was actually there yesterday morning; it was impossible for me to table amendments on Saturday and Sunday and we took Second Stage on Thursday. We are being put under considerable strain when these important Bills are going through. They should be published as far in advance as possible before we debate them.

This Bill is very important and we all want it to work well. I am quite sure that the Tánaiste, my constituent, will give me credit in the Lower House when she brings forward her own amendment regarding the definition of medical practitioner or the question of by whom medical reports can be brought forward. I would not like to see people disadvantaged because of reports coming in from people considered more likely than others to produce favourable reports.