James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. There is no question of not supporting the Bill which is 100% necessary. Without it, there can be no general election. Members on this side of the House are very much looking forward to the latter.

The Bill is very important to both candidates and the electorate. Fine Gael is very anxious to see it passed. Natural justice and democracy demand this. However, we must ask what action or inaction made this Bill necessary. What bungling and inefficiency has necessitated rushing it through the Oireachtas in the dying days of this Government's term of office?

We do not need to look too far for answers. Responsibility in this regard lies with the Government and the Minister of State. While not directly involved in the introduction of what became the Electoral Act 1992, which this Bill seeks to amend, the Minister of State will surely agree that the Government is directly responsible for drafting improper legislation in the first instance and that this now requires us to pass the Bill before us.