Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I concur with what Senator Brian Hayes has said. I am a great critic of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform but on many occasions both the Minister, Deputy Michael McDowell, and his Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, have been more than willing to spend a considerable amount of time in this House dealing with legislation that was introduced here. For example, the Minister was very responsive to Opposition proposals concerning the Civil Liability and Courts Bill.

No one could take exception to any of these amendments. Legislation that is dealt with at a reasonably sane level and a reasonable pace, without undue haste by the Government or too much obstruction by the Opposition, can be improved. Parliamentary scrutiny is a necessary part of the legislative process. It is not a figment to achieve democratic status for Government proposals, but a real process. This is a human process in which various people can see matters that even experts can miss. If I have learned anything over the years in the Oireachtas, it is that I do not know very much myself but I pretend to know a lot. I have also learned that people whom one would think know everything, in fact, often tend to have slight gaps in their understanding. In the end, all of us mere humans have a contribution to make.

As a professional engineer, I have also learned over the years that no lay person should ever feel the least bit intimidated in the presence of a professional. There is a good chance the lay person can add something to the legislative process that perhaps legal specialists cannot. In defence of politics, there is a view that only politicians can deal with legislation because of what they know and have learned through their own experience. While I do not wish to disparage officials or Ministers in any way, such experience could never be brought to bear through officialdom alone. The same argument could be made to show that efficient officialdom will produce a better health service, but I am sceptical about that. I would also be sceptical if we had a wonderful, technocratic system of Government because I believe the same issues would arise.

I welcome the process which has seen this Bill introduced in this House, passed by the Dáil where it was further amended, and now returned to us. While I realise it is demanded by Standing Orders, it annoys me that all these Bills which originate in the Seanad end up being printed on green paper just because the Dáil amends them slightly. It is a small issue but I feel I should mention it.