Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because I know that the Minister will want to come in and deal with many of the points that have been raised. I am somewhat torn over these sections because I have a great deal of sympathy and solidarity for what Senator Higgins has outlined but I am also very conscious of the live implications of Brexit and the necessity to get this legislation through. I wish we were debating legislation pertaining solely to the issues of migration. We need that conversation and to look at this much more broadly.

I will not be opposing any of Senator Higgins' amendments as outlined but I am conscious why it is important this legislation is passed for all of the reasons that we have extensively articulated in this House, going back over a long time. I am serious when I say that we need to look at the broader issues that my colleague has raised. It is important to make that point where there are complex legislative processes required.

I respect and appreciate the points that have sincerely been raised but I am not comfortable that they are coming during this Stage of the passage of emergency legislation. I wanted to make that point for the purposes of the record and to contribute to this debate. I acknowledge the severity of the issues raised. We need a stand-alone debate on those issues with a view to taking a much better approach. However, the focus now needs to be on concluding legislation for all the reasons that the Minister and her colleagues have outlined, and for all the reasons we know, given the live implications of this legislation.