Derek McDowell (Labour)

The short answer is "Yes". As I said earlier, legislation cannot deal with the issues that are being addressed in the Four Courts. Nothing I can do, no magic wand we can collectively wave and nothing we can put into or take out of a Bill can affect the outcome of that case. If the hearing were concluded on Friday and even if judgment is not given immediately, we will get on with the legislative process. I hope the text of the Government's proposals will be available by lunchtime tomorrow so people will have adequate opportunity to study them and that they will be law as quickly as possible. I am not holding them up.

I wish to thank the officials in the Department, who have put in a huge effort. They have spent many hours, working at weekends and up to 11 p.m. on the subject since this crisis first broke like a thunderbolt out of the blue on Tuesday of last week. They have worked might and main to try to address all the issues, for which I thank them. I thank this House for the opportunity to address the matter here this evening.