Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. I understand from his comments that he heard some of what was said earlier this morning in the House. The Opposition accepts that Second Stage of the Bill should be dealt with this morning. It is right and proper that the House has an open discussion on this issue but to push all Stages of this Bill through the House this morning is quite unacceptable. The Minister and the Minister of State need to know that dealing with legislation in this manner is shoddy and unacceptable. It does not do justice to the Bill or to the people we represent.

I had just arrived in the House this morning when I received copies of the response to this Bill from the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Irish Refugee Council. There are some very worthwhile amendments contained in this response, which the Opposition has not had the opportunity to propose. That opportunity would exist if the remaining Stages of the Bill were to be taken next week. I ask the Minister of State to advise the Government Members opposite to accept what this side of the House has said and delay this process until Tuesday. This would give the House adequate time——