Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House both in the position he holds now and on his re-election. I delayed speaking until I could hear Senator Brendan Ryan's contribution. I have a very high regard for the Senator's views and he informed me he was very unhappy about this legislation. I am in complete agreement with him that there is a need for primary legislation rather than it being rushed through the House.

Primary legislation would afford the House time to consider the matter and it would be preferable not to have all Stages in one sitting day, as has happened yesterday and today with other matters. It is in the hands of Members to delay this proposal and to return next week because the Minister of State has explained it must be passed by 10 July. I agree with Senator Ryan that it should be delayed but I do not agree with him as regards the other aspect. Thirty years ago we began to implement security measures at airports to stop hijackers. We all objected until we discovered how dangerous it was not to do it.

In recent years, we have not welcomed each extra precaution that has been introduced, such as those where we must show any liquid in a plastic bag before getting on an aeroplane, but when we see what happened in England and Scotland last weekend, we realise that steps must be taken. If those steps are taken by the Americans because they believe them necessary to protect themselves against a potential threat, we must go along with them. We have no choice.

We have not sought reciprocal arrangements from the Americans because we do not require them. My son was travelling on the M6 from the south of England to Holyhead last week when he was passed by the police cars trying to arrest the two people suspected of involvement in the attempted bombings in London. That made me realise that we would pass legislation to ensure we would be protected if we felt threatened.

We must support legislation like this, although I regret the manner in which we are doing so because I do not like rushed legislation of any kind that does not allow us to examine it in detail. The Minister of State has explained that he is making an exception on this occasion and almost apologised for doing so. In future, however, we should take into account Senator Ryan's remarks and, if we have a choice, do this through primary legislation where we give ourselves the time to scrutinise it. We should take steps to ensure legislation we may not like gets the attention it deserves.

I understand the Minister of State's haste, although I regret the speedy passage of this motion. I accept, however, there is a need for it.