Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I look forward to seeing those amendments and I welcome the Minister to the House. First, I would like to reference the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has been mentioned a number of times in this debate. The committee met on Tuesday last, 17 November and at that meeting, I understand that the Minister asked that pre-legislative scrutiny be waived for this Bill. A vote was taken and that proposal was defeated. However, using Seanad Standing Orders, the Minister was able to initiate this legislation in this House and, therefore, bypass the pre-legislative scrutiny altogether. Rather than a respect for this House that was outlined by the Minister, it was akin to a loophole.