Seanad debates

Monday, 26 April 2021

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Barry WardBarry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In respect to what Senator Bacik said, I am not a Government Senator; I may be a member of a Government party but I have no more power over the Government in this House than Senator Bacik or any other Senator. Much is the pity, in my view, but that is the reality of the situation. It would be a real shame if we adopted the position that Government Senators should not table amendments. We are all legislators in this House and we all have a role in scrutinising legislation, raising issues and identifying them for the Government that runs the country as opposed to those of us who are Members of the Legislature. I see my role as doing exactly that, and that is why I have tabled amendments. As to whether I will press them, I will wait to hear what the Minister of State says on each one. I will not make a decision at the outset as to whether I am going to press them. It would be a real shame if a view were taken that Government Senators should not table amendments, which I realise is not what Senator Bacik was saying, and that if they did, they might find themselves embarrassing their party. That is not necessary at all. What we should be doing is stating what we think about the legislation, making proposals, listening to what people think about them and then deciding whether they should be accepted. That is the reason the amendments have been tabled.

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