Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Given the obligations on the Government to deliver certain legislation within set timeframes as prescribed by the troika, there is a limit to the amount of legislation that can be dealt with at a particular time. There is a human limit in that regard. I pay tribute to Attorney General and those in her office. The amount of legislation we have been able to produce, for example, through the Department of Justice and Equality, has been as a consequence of extraordinary work and dedication by officials in the Department and in the Office of the Attorney General. One gets to a point where there is a limit to the work that can be completed and it is important that we do things correctly and not in a rushed manner.

If the paper I was handed in this House last week had been received by me two or three weeks earlier, there would have been some additional time available to ensure that everyone who needed to could give consideration to it. I refer not just to me, but also to the Office of the Attorney General. Normally if a major substantive amendment is being proposed to legislation either originating from or being accepted by Government, it is a matter that would be drawn to the attention of Cabinet. There was not an opportunity for that to happen within the timeframe. I need to be careful that we deal with matters correctly.

The examples the Senator has given are interesting. In the context of the complexities of human relationships, it is reasonable to say that an event such as she describes could occur, but the two examples she gives are less likely events in their complexity than other events that may give rise to the European arrest warrant procedure. My priority has to be to implement now the provisions of the Bill that have been dealt with in the other House and are before this House, and not to allow an amendment that has not been given the detailed perusal that is required to be suddenly incorporated into the Bill to the detriment of the Bill being enacted before the Houses adjourn. It is important to implement the reforms contained in this measure. When we return with the more detailed, consolidated Bill, bringing together what will now end up being four pieces of legislation, we will have an opportunity to address not only the issues the Senator has raised, but also certain possible other areas that need to be tidied up in the legislation. That is reasonable.

I come back to the point that if the proposal being made had been received somewhat earlier than it was received, there might have been a capacity to incorporate it. However, we needed to focus on other legislation. While it may not be relevant to this, I can inform Senators that the vetting Bill was approved by Cabinet in its full form yesterday and it will be published on Friday. The Europol Bill was approved by Cabinet yesterday and will probably be published early next week. I am afraid there is a limit to the amount of legislation or amendments that can be considered at any one time.