Alex White (Labour)

At this early stage, the Minister of State has extended the debate into other issues, despite being urged by the Leas-Chathaoirleach not to do so. In respect of amendment No. 1, I anticipate that the Minister of State will inform the House that while many of the amendments are good, the legislation is not the appropriate place in which to deal with them. I will have some difficulty with that response as business proceeds.

In respect of the proposal in amendment No. 1, the Minister of State's response that the legislation may not be the appropriate place to deal with the issue in question has some merit and I am prepared to accept it. While I am not in a position to set conditions for the Minister of State, I ask him to indicate that the issue will be, as opposed to may be, addressed in the codification exercise to which he referred. If he gives such an undertaking, I will be satisfied that subsequent legislation is the appropriate place in which to address the issue and will not pursue the matter on the basis that progress will be made.

The Minister of State should not take a "holier than thou" position on lobby groups or vested interests as he is a prominent member of a party which is familiar and comfortable with dealing with such groups and interests in all types of areas. He should not tell Opposition Senators that we should not talk to or listen to lobby groups. They are as entitled as everyone else to raise issues with us. It is a little rich to hear a "holier than thou" attitude from the Government side.