Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

If I were a betting man, I would say it will not be far from Senator Barrett's Bill, which is very well put together. He is a man of immense experience and knowledge in this area.

I ask the Government not to reject the Bill merely on the basis that it comes from the Opposition benches but to allow it to go through Second Stage and propose amendments which can be discussed in the House. The Minister for Finance, prior to the budget and in his Budget Statement, and the Taoiseach, on the formation of the Dáil, both said clearly that politics would be done differently. I welcomed that. They said the views of other people would be listened to. If a cross-party or non-party approach is to be taken with regard to budgetary matters and if the Government is looking for real input and feedback, as I know the Minister of State is, I do not see anything wrong with the Government accepting legislation from the Opposition side, allowing it to move to Second Stage and proposing Government amendments where it wishes. Legislation should not be voted down simply because it does not emanate from Government. This is an important Bill. It is well put together, as was the Family Home Bill 2011. Many Government Senators voted for that Bill but it was defeated by the Government simply on the basis that it had originated on the Opposition benches. We have not seen an alternative to that Bill, even now as we approach the last week of the 2011 sitting.

I urge the Government to accept the Bill. I thank Senator Barrett for the work he has put into it. The Bill makes sense. The Government is committed to the measure. Senator Barrett has behaved in a manner that is fiscally responsible and has saved the Department of Finance hundreds of thousands of euro by producing the Bill himself, as opposed to having departmental officials produce the Bill, which they still have not done.