Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think this is important. We worked in a very collegial way, both in this House and in the committee, and we are being told on many amendments that the Minister will go away and reflect on them. The Minister of State will appreciate this as the Chief Whip. Could we say that if the Minister's reflections do not take on board a lot of the proposed amendments coming forward, it is fair to say that the Government should not necessarily count on the support of all Senators with regard to this?

Much work has gone into a lot of the amendments. This is not a controversial amendment. There are other elements that we can have a heavy debate about. We are now into the fifth hour or more of this debate and, so far, one minor amendment has been accepted. My question is why the Government would not accept this amendment and then on Report Stage if the Minister chooses she can tidy it up or change it and she can bring it back at that Stage. We are accepting the bona fides on Report Stage. I am probably a little calmer, but I understand my colleague's frustration on this. Everyone in this House is acting in a bona fide way. This is a very important issue and we do not think the Government is being fair. I am asking the Minister of State if the Government would accept this amendment and that in accepting it that there would be changes. I am very tempted to push the amendment.