David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The amendment is not directly related to the six months, although it is an important point. I asked the Minister of State to elucidate whether or not there was six months anywhere in the Bill and he very honestly and directly told the House that it is nowhere in the Bill. It is a wish and hope on the part of those involved in the Bill. He has also admitted that it may not be as rapid as that but has not really answered the question which is, if, as he says, it is standard practice on the ground, why is there any reason to oppose it being included in the Bill. It is something that is currently happening or will be happening as a matter of course. I see absolutely no reason to reject this amendment, particularly as there is not, as there sometimes is, the political reality of not wanting the Bill to go back to the Dáil and all the rest of it, although this is a Seanad Bill.

There are various political reasons for not wanting to accept amendments. I have been in many situations in which there were a huge number of amendments to legislation put forward from this side of the House and not a single one was accepted, even though the Government of the day accepted their logic. I expect there will be a vote on this and I will certainly be voting for the amendment unless the Minister of State can find it in his heart to accept it and put practice into law. That is good law.