David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will obviously disagree with me but I think the Bill should be withdrawn and recast. Any Bill that requires such a galaxy of amendments to it by the Government at a late stage calls its validity into question. Is the problem that there are not sufficient draftspersons? An additional €3 billion was found lying in a drawer somewhere the other day. Surely it would not cost a great deal to recruit additional draftspersons. We obviously need more draftspersons and, perhaps, better ones than those who are currently in place. Let us spend a bit of money. Let the Government take note of this situation.I guarantee, as I did on the previous Bill, that this House will be disruptive, awkward and difficult. I know the Bill will be guillotined. It is a disgrace to guillotine a Bill such as this, which is so important in terms of our international standing. It is terrible. The Minister of State is a good, decent man and a good politician for whom I have great respect but in this instance he is on the wrong ticket.