David Norris (Independent)

I asked the Minister of State a specific and clear question and I would like an answer to it. Is he prepared to postpone Report Stage? It cannot affect the timetable for the passage of the Bill in any significant sense if he delays Report Stage until this House gets an opportunity to discuss it. Otherwise, I will begin to suspect the Minister of State's good faith in this respect. What is the point of sacrificing Seanad Éireann to which I know the Minister of State has some vestigial loyalty. He spent 14 years in this House and he was a good and valued colleague. Why are we not being given sight of an integral, significant part of the Bill until it goes to the Dáil? Why are we being requested merely to rubber-stamp it? That is not the function of this House.