Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We should acknowledge, to be fair to Deputy Coveney, who is a constituency colleague of mine in Cork South-Central, that he has demonstrated, since this Seanad convened, a willingness to come into the House, engage and work with Members to make legislation better, and that applies to this Bill. Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised issues, and the Minister came in and addressed them. The Minister is willing to come to the House, debate and negotiate. I regret, and I mean this genuinely, that we did not have an opportunity prior to today to iron out properly with Senator O'Sullivan any difficulties the Minister had to ensure the passing of the Bill. Nonetheless, I hope we can arrive at a conclusion that will be mutually beneficial to the Green Party and the Minister. My point is that, of all the Ministers to come before the House, Deputy Coveney has demonstrated a willingness to work and a flexibility to get things done, whether with the Fianna Fáil Party, Sinn Féin, Independents or the Green Party, and that should be put on the record of the House.