Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I have indicated opposition to sections 10 to 21, inclusive. This section deals with the changes to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. Clearly, these points have arisen as a result of hasty legislation last year in the form of that Act. Why else would we be revisiting the matter within a year? It was hasty legislation. There were problems that have now emerged in terms of its implementation.

It highlights what happens when we do what we are doing here today and what happened in the Dáil yesterday in the case of complex legislation. Senator Alex White made a point here yesterday with which I very much agree, that it is not necessarily about giving extra time in the House to debate it but about having time for the Opposition to hear the views of the people, such as, for example, the Medical Council or other interested parties, whom it affects.

If we, as a Legislature and as a democracy, were functioning properly, that is what we would be doing. We would not be taking all Stages together, one day after the other. We would have time to reflect on this, to see the legal advice and to link with the people who are being affected. All that has been denied to us. There have been no committee discussions.

I also register my party's opposition to this section and the other sections that deal with the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 on the principle that this should not be umbrella legislation covering three separate strands.