Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the fact that Government Senators are tabling amendments more frequently than they would have done previously. I commend my colleague, Senator Ward, on tabling the amendments, going to the trouble of analysing the legislation and giving his views, which will better the legislation. By debating these matters we are doing what we are constitutionally supposed to do, which is enhance and improve legislation. Amendments need not necessarily always be right but it is healthy and good that when Senators have a viewpoint, they would feel free to table amendments, where appropriate. It is important that we would support Senators who do that because it is positive. Senator Ward has played his role in enhancing legislation.

One worry I have is that because of the time constraints due to Covid-19 we are not debating legislation, on Committee Stage in particular, to the level we should be doing. That is an issue the House might examine because legislation is passing through the House which we need to spend more time teasing out.