Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

Senator Henry has raised the questions I wanted to ask. I look forward to the Minister's response and commend him on his open approach to the views expressed in the House and elsewhere on this fundamental element of the legislation.

I seek the Chair's guidance on a matter and the Minister's response thereto. The Minister will return to Government to discuss whether to impose a limitation period of three, two or one years, after which he will return to the House for the Report Stage debate, which is very limited compared to Committee Stage. This amendment addresses a fundamental point, which also arises with regard to later amendments in my name on the pleadings issue and medical negligence. I propose that the House consider adjourning Committee Stage to a later date to allow the Minister to table amendments to later sections of the Bill. In other words, I wish to ensure that fundamental aspects of this legislation, for example, medical negligence, pleadings and so forth, are debated on Committee Stage, rather than Report Stage. I propose, therefore, that we adjourn Committee Stage to a later date to allow the Minister to discuss the relevant matters with his Cabinet colleagues and enable the House to have the widest possible debate on the amendments. If he returns to the House with significant amendments on Report Stage, which I presume he will, debate will be relatively restricted.