Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Minister has considered each of the proposed amendments, although he has rejected all of them. I hope the Bill, when it is adopted and put into practice, will not fail because of the intransigence regarding some of those amendments, which were made in a constructive manner and were designed to improve and strengthen the Bill.

We are adopting this legislation in extreme circumstances and extreme measures are needed to deal with the extraordinary problems we have with organised crime, drug dealing and gangland crime. One is always conscious also of the theme in the film "The Lives of Others" that there is scope for abuse. It is important adequate safeguards are in place to ensure that innocent people are not victims of misuse of this type of legislation and facility that is accorded to the guardians of the peace, the Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and the Defence Forces.

Fine Gael has supported the Bill. We made some constructive suggestions and proposed amendments. I appreciate that the matter has been debated thoroughly and I appreciate the Minister's attention.