Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

With respect, an important point is being raised by my colleagues. In the normal course of events where there is a serious opposition within the Seanad or the Dáil to a particular Bill or provisions of it, there would usually be recourse to some discussion - outside of the debate - between the officials, the Minister and the Senators who are opposing particular aspects of the Bill in an effort to reach a compromise. I said this before, at some earlier point during Committee Stage debates. There are numerous examples, such as the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Bill 2018, with which Senator Norris and I had issues. Senator Norris will recall that we had meetings with officials and with the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, in an attempt to reach a compromise position. Similarly, with some of the Private Members' Bills I proposed that the Government adopted and amended we met a number of times over the course of preparation of amendments. We achieved good legislation as a result; through this negotiation and compromise it is often more possible in meetings outside of the actual legislative debate. While issues should, of course, be raised on the floor of the House during Committee Stage debates, quite frequently we have recourse to meetings outside of the debates to try to achieve compromise where there is real opposition to particular provisions in a Bill. That has not happened in this case. I have made that comment before. It is a pity that it did not happen and it would have shortened things.