Alex White (Labour)

I have no difficulty in having a debate on the PIAB. I respectfully disagree with Senator O'Toole on his point about the attempt made to exclude the possibility of people receiving the advice and assistance of lawyers in a personal injuries action. That was always wrong and the decision of the Supreme Court was correct, but that issue is separate from that of the level of fees claimed which should be debated. As this point is usually raised late on the Order of Business, I do not get an opportunity to respond to it. As a lawyer, I have no difficulty in debating the matter in the House and more publicly. By all means, let us have these issues debated. I have no difficulty in debating them, if the Leader wants to arrange such a debate at a time he sees fit.

I also ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the role of this House in monitoring European legislation. It may be difficult to fit this item in before the end of the session, but I ask him to try hard to do so, particularly in the light of what he said yesterday on the involvement of the House in the processing of European legislation. He was contemplating setting aside one Thursday every month in the autumn for a discussion of the issue. This sounds like a very good idea, but, as a member of the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny, with Senator Leyden and others, there are great complexities associated with the scrutiny of European legislation. This is not an argument against the proposal made, but let us not rush in jumping the fences. A report of the Sub-Committee on the Review of the Role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs is to be published next week. I will attend a meeting at 11.30 a.m. to finalise it with my colleagues. It looks to be a very good report on how the Houses can participate more fully in European affairs and the monitoring of European legislation. We could have a debate on the report before the end of the session. The report will be published on 7 July. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue the following week.