David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I do not see how there would be a problem with leaving the Bill on the Order Paper. It could be amended or stopped and voted down on Committee Stage. Operating a guillotine which is what the Government is doing seems unnecessary, but there is nothing I can do about it, except to try persuasion. I hope reasonable voices will be listened to so as to ensure the Bill will be sustained.

I would like a direct answer from the Minister of State on my next point, if possible. Let us suppose the Bill fails at this point and the Government, in its usual dog-in-a-manger fashion, insists on introducing legislation of its own that can be stamped "Fine Gael", what is the timeframe? Can the Minister of State give us any indication-----