David Norris (Independent)

Can I ask about the Defamation Bill 2006? When I raised this matter a week or two ago, the Leader agreed with me that it was not a good idea to reintroduce it on Committee Stage as 35 Senators — a majority of the Members of the House — had not had an opportunity to discuss it on Second Stage. He said my proposal was sensible. I see that sense has not yet broken out on the Order Paper — the Bill is still listed there for Committee Stage. We know that the Minister has decided to drop the Privacy Bill 2006, which was supposed to partner the Defamation Bill 2006. As a consequence of some significant developments in this regard — I refer to a series of libel cases resulting from some damaging reporting in the newspapers — we have some new information that should be taken into account. Will the Leader provide for a sensible discussion on the Defamation Bill 2006, instead of taking a short cut by reintroducing it on Committee Stage?