Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

If we had more co-operation from them at that stage they could have even improved it.

Having effectively binned Senator Morrissey's legislation the Minister said that the Government, some 12 months later, will bring forward its legislation on this area. Any fair-minded person will see the constant flip-flopping of the Minister on this issue. They will acknowledge, beyond doubt, the responsible position taken by my party in the other House in respect of our Bill and that the careful consideration given to that initiative at that stage will result in some measure of legal change. We welcome that. The Law Reform Commission's report states beyond doubt that this is an area in respect of which the law must be changed and that it needs to be changed by the introduction of legislation, which we attempted to introduce last year. As I said at that time, there was no reason for the then Government not to accept that Bill on Second Stage, proceed to Committee Stage and make amendments thereto.