Alex White (Labour)

I cannot take the matter much further than my colleagues. I do not intend to rise to debate or over-react to some statements in the same way as some colleagues, usually from the opposite side. I take exception to any suggestion on the part of the Minister of State or anybody on his behalf, when he gave the long list of problems and social ills attempted to be addressed in this Bill, that people on this side of the House are in some way less concerned or interested in addressing those issues. He rather rhetorically threw into his defence of the position a few minutes ago that people would surely want to deal with issues such as binge drinking and fall-out from the abuse of alcohol, as if there was some suggestion that people over here were less interested in doing so.

I take considerable exception to that suggestion. Anything said by Senators Quinn, Norris, Bacik, Regan or myself has been precisely directed in that cause — an attempt to ensure this legislation is the best possible. We are not attempting to delay it for the sake of it.

Despite Senator Quinn's benign interpretation of what the Minister of State said in respect of listening to amendments, it is perfectly clear the Government has not the slightest intention of accepting any amendments before the House. It is a sad state of affairs that Members of an important constitutional body such as this House know that irrespective of what they say or do before this debate concludes, either today or, at Senator O'Donovan's suggestion, next week, it will not make a difference.