Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I could not believe someone could be so callous in his denunciation and not be aware of it. I imagine the bank received a wave of calls.

Senator Ryan referred to the need to debate Ireland's future within the EU. The Senator also referred to the Irish Medicines Board (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. This morning I met the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, and he is aware that Senator Ryan and others feel disquiet on the pace of the Bill and the lack of accompanying documentation that should accompany such comprehensive amendments. I stated we could not debate the Bill next week if the main speakers did not receive these documents. He agreed to communicate this to the Department of Health and Children. I pointed out that these necessary documents had been provided with Bills from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

I felt very strongly about this when the case was brought to my attention, having listened to the debate intermittently. The Minister of State is thorough and painstaking and does not want this Chamber to rush amendments. This House is a legislative chamber and I try not to have Committee and Report Stages together. However, when the Stages are taken separately there may only be 20 minutes' debate on the Bill. One must make a judgment on the depth of the Bill and how to divide the Stages but we will dedicate plenty time to it next week. The accompanying documents, backing up Government amendments, will be provided and we will not rush Report Stage.

In these situations panic grips Departments, as if the Bills had to be ready before Christmas to go into someone's Christmas stocking. This is not necessary and thorough scrutiny is more important.