Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the House for agreeing to the suspension earlier. The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill has been the topic of conversation. It is my proposal not to deal with all items on the Order of Business today other than the proposed amendments to it. We have given 86 hours and 25 minutes of debate to the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. I understand the frustrations of the Members who were opposing the Order of Business. Perhaps they should talk to the Joseph of new politics regarding the proposal before us today. We have given the Bill a fair hearing. We started the Bill on 20 June last and commenced Committee on 3 July. From then until today, 17 April, we have given it 86 hours and 25 minutes. By any stretch of the imagination that is a fair time for a Bill. It would be premature of Members now to suggest otherwise. In response to Senator Humphreys's comments about the Sinn Féin Party, his party was quite happy to take their votes in the Seanad campaign and had a number of agreements with them over a number of Seanad elections. It is important that we allow for the progression of this Bill, which is part of the programme for Government.