Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

The Government is pulling a stunt in rushing through the House this week the Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008. The Dáil is dealing with Committee and Report Stages of the Bill today. The Seanad will tomorrow take Second Stage of the Bill and will take Committee and Report Stages on Thursday. Adequate time should be provided for public consultation in regard to the tabling of appropriate amendments to substantive legislation. Also, the legislation should be adequately debated in this House.

In rushing through this legislation, the Government is hiding its failure to adhere to its legislative programme. Very little of the legislation contained in the legislative programme has been enacted by the Oireachtas this year. The only substantive piece of legislation enacted was the Finance Bill which is flawed legislation bearing in mind it is effectively being amended today in respect of changes to planned expenditure as a result of a shortfall in tax take and the over-shoot of expenditure, both of which were predictable at the beginning of the year.

The Government proposes to introduce in the autumn comprehensive legislation on the sale of alcohol. I believe the Intoxicating Liquor Bill and that legislation should be taken together. This would ensure there is adequate time for parliamentary scrutiny of this legislation. We cannot complain about the inadequate time available in respect of the scrutiny of EU legislation while at the same time accepting the Government's fixing of procedure to ensure there is inadequate time for proper parliamentary scrutiny by both Houses of this type of legislation. I ask that the Leader consider my proposal which will ensure this legislation, which affects a number of interests with views on the matter that need to be considered by politicians, is not rushed through this House.