Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I wish to express my party's unhappiness with the proposed Order of Business. Last week we were advised of the proposed business of the House for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. On Tuesday, the Leader indicated to us that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was anxious to press the legislation through the Dáil this week and it would come before the House on Friday. We accepted this, but on Wednesday when party leaders in the other House got the documentation on the Bill, they expressed reservations about it whereupon the Minister postponed the taking of the Bill in the Dáil and decided to introduce it here on Friday.

Our spokesperson got the legislation yesterday. Does this show any respect with regard to consultation? Does it show respect for the Seanad? As the legislation will not come before the Dáil until next Wednesday, we could have been allowed a reasonable period of time to consider it. The Bill could be taken in the House next Tuesday.

This makes a mockery of the House. The Minister is wrong and is moving with indecent haste with the legislation. There are more pressing matters for him to be getting on with. I protest at the manner in which this has been handled and the arrogant way in which the Minister and his Department are behaving.