Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

To the best of my knowledge Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights are special. There is a kind of constitutional shrine in the Library of Congress which goes back to Magna Carta. Obviously, the highlights of this shrine are the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution.

The Bill of Rights should be treated in an entirely different manner to the other pieces of legislation under discussion, because it is one of the foundation stones to our legislation. We must think about the future as well as the past and in this context we are thinking of both. I would be inclined to stay the hand in the manner proposed by the Minister.