Shane Ross (Independent)

——and will then be referred to the all-party committee. This would save the Government's face. I suspect this decision was taken somewhat precipitately under pressure from people who seem to wield disproportionate influence within certain parties. It would allow the debate to go ahead. It would mean nobody would be embarrassed in any way and it would mean the Bill could come back to the House and be voted on at a later stage.

It would also accommodate the difficulties, which are very understandable, on the other side of the House that were particularly eloquently spoken about by Senator Jim Walsh. It would accommodate the difficulties of Senator Mansergh in that the Bill could be amended as the Government wishes on Committee Stage. That is a possible solution that would allow a serious debate. Senator Norris is right in his view that the Seanad is in danger of being seen to run away from a difficult issue.