Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. In speaking to this grouping, which deals with his amendments, I wish to outline my opposition to the way in which the amendments have been brought forward. The guillotining of this debate is in my view disrespectful to our roles as Senators and legislators. The changes being made are significant and were not subjected to scrutiny by the members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action who conducted pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill. The amendments were not scrutinised by a select committee and they landed on Tuesday night, not giving Senators enough time to look at them. The changes to the Bill being proposed are substantial. This is a bad way to do parliamentary work.

Today is International Day of Parliamentarism and I regret that today proper respect is not being shown to the Seanad and to our role as legislators. As we have not been given proper time to scrutinise the Minister of State’s amendments or this Bill, I will be opposing their inclusion at this Stage as I do not believe this is how this House should do business.