Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senator Darragh O'Brien, the Leader of the Opposition, with other Senators, raised the question of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. I gave an undertaking last week that we would have sufficient time to debate this Bill and I can assure anybody who wishes to speak that he or she will be afforded the opportunity to do so. The reason we are concluding it at 1.45 p.m. today, although it can be resumed on any other day we decide, is that the Minister has another engagement. I am making inquiries, which continue even at this moment, to see whether the Minister can stay longer today. If possible, he will, but I do not believe at present that it is possible. I will certainly extend and resume the debate at a later stage if we have sufficient speakers on the Bill.