Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd to the House. These are difficult days for the Minister and the people of County Louth as a result of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I offer my condolences to the Minister, the people of his county and to the family of Detective Garda Donohoe in County Cavan, where he hailed from originally.

I wish to clarify the situation regarding amendments to the Bill. Senator Cullinane rightly stated that on the list of amendments tabled there are none from Fianna Fáil but I wish to put on the record of the House that Fianna Fáil did submit 18 amendments. However, because of a technical difficulty, they were not submitted on time. We could have pursued the issue but we understand that the Bills Office is very busy and that we will be given an opportunity to raise our amendments on Report Stage. I wanted that information to be put on the record of the House. I will make no further comment now but will speak to various sections of the Bill later.