Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like everyone here I will be very interested in all that the Minister of State has to say. I am pleased he is here and, naturally, I welcome him to the House. I am unsure whether today will matter a whit but I thoroughly and utterly respect the right of Senator Daly, or anyone else, as well as the 20 Members who signed the petition to recall the House and have this debate. The debate has been useful and dignified. Many good arguments and points have been made. However, one year ago the Fianna Fáil spokesman in the other House recommended that the Minister should sign the necessary order. Both sides agree that there are many positive aspects in the directive. In fact, there is nothing in it that any of us disagree with. It contains good and sound regulations and I imagine the Minister of State will expound on these when he comes to speak.

Senator Power raised a good point that we have highlighted previously and referred to often in the House, that is, the need for European scrutiny. The Leader, Senator Maurice Cummins, has often referred to this matter and he has implored the Government for the House to be allowed to address those matters in a more detailed and meaningful way. Anyway, sadly, that has yet to happen.

I have nothing further to say. I said to the Minister of State before coming to the House today that I would come, like all of my colleagues, to take part, to enjoy the debate and to listen, but especially to hear the Minister of State and to hear an authoritative word from what I term official Ireland - I will not say "the establishment". We are a constitutional democracy and I have no doubt the matter has been dealt with properly. I will leave it at that and I look forward to hearing from the Minister of State.