David Norris (Independent)

I disagree vehemently with the disgraceful way in which this Bill is being rushed and I would like an explanation from the Minister why it is being reintroduced on Committee Stage rather than Second Stage. Thirty-five out of 60 Members in this House have had no opportunity to speak on it, including some very eminent legal people such as Senator Regan, a senior counsel. They have been deprived of the opportunity to have a proper say on the second half of the Bill.

Matters have moved on since the previous debate, which may have served as a warning to the press. However, the press has gone on to commit worse actions in the interval between this Bill failing to complete Committee Stage on the previous occasion and it being introduced again. I am astonished at the alacrity with which the Government has rammed the Bill through in an undemocratic manner, which is effectively a guillotine on the operation of the House and an insult to Seanad Éireann. I have no doubt about that.

I believe a deal was done between the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and the O'Reilly newspaper empire. This was made perfectly clear when Independent News & Media newspapers changed their tack in the same way The Sun newspaper did when it got Mr. Blair into power in England. Rupert Murdoch did a deal with Mr. Blair in that case.

I do not agree with the Bill being introduced on this Stage and I do not agree with section 1. I take it that section is the Short Title and commencement. Before we speak of the commencement of the Bill, may I ask when we will have the commencement of the debate? I will have certain matters to raise with regard to some other early sections.

Will the Minister explain why this Bill, in defiance of any sense of democracy, is being introduced on Committee Stage rather than Second Stage? Does he agree that doing this deprives more than half the Members of this House of an opportunity to speak on this important Bill?

What is the fate of the Privacy Bill? We were always told it was supposed to be the partner of this legislation. The Minister's predecessor, Mr. Michael McDowell, instituted a group under Brian Murray, SC.