Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has resorted to the stock response of "What did Fianna Fáil do in 14 years?", which is becoming very tiresome. They talk about 14 years in power. During those 14 years of government, we were amending a Bill we brought in in 2001 so the idea that we did nothing is wrong. The reason people are giving out to the Minister of State about this Bill not being brought through is because it was published in 2012. It has been sitting on a shelf in the Seanad Office since Second Stage. We have got to Committee Stage and we find that changes to the Bill are drastic. I am trying to find out what is going on, why these changes are being made and why the reforms are not being substituted.

The Taoiseach tried this before as well. He blamed the Seanad when he was asked where the Valuation (Amendment) Bill was by one of the Minister of State's colleagues on the back benches in the Dáil. The Taoiseach said "Oh we know the way the Seanad does its business". That was his exact reply. Of course, it was in the run-up to the referendum. The reality is the Government made a mess of this Bill. It is trying to make changes. The Minister of State's officials met interest groups and I am grateful that they did so because it is very important but it is a pity it is happening at five minutes to midnight in the week before it finishes Committee Stage here. This is going backwards rather than forwards and I reject the contention that it is something to do with Fianna Fáil.