Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I refer to the Order of Business where two pieces of EU legislation are to be introduced without debate. They are motions on judgment in absentia and the European evidence warrant, which are very important but are to be referred to committee without debate. Over the past two weeks a number of items of EU legislation were referred to committee and when they come back from committee they are marked down as without debate again. The Leader is failing in ensuring proper debate on EU legislation and the responsibility falls on him. I will remind him of this on each and every occasion he attempts to bypass the House in this manner.

I agree completely with Senator O'Toole in his comments on having the Order of Business on Friday if we are to meet on that day. There should be an Order of Business on any day we meet so that this House is relevant to the issues of the day——