Shane Ross (Independent)

I thank Senators Burke, Coffey, O'Toole, O'Reilly, Quinn, Prendergast, McFadden, Boyle, Carty, Walsh and Callely for contributing to the debate.

I was disappointed by the Minister's response to the Bill, which was deliberately tailored in such a way as to give him an opportunity to accept it. The Bill was structured so that there would not be much in it to which he could object and so that he might add to or subtract from it if he objected to any of its contents. I was disappointed by his initial response — echoed by almost everyone on the Government side of the House — to the effect that the principle behind the Bill is something with which he cannot disagree. The Minister then proceeded to pick holes in some of the detail. I have no problem with his doing so or with him changing any of that detail. The Bill was merely meant to kick-start the process.