Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask Senators to bear with me because I want to properly deal with the amendments that have been proposed. I thank all Senators for their contributions on the Order of Business. In taking the Order of Business on behalf of the Leader, I am relaying information of which Members are already aware. I am not in a position to accept any of the amendments. I apologise to Senators for the obvious disappointment that will bring. I concur with many of the remarks in respect of the pressure that is put on this House to pass legislation before certain deadlines that are imposed by various Ministers.

As regards the Higher Education Authority Bill, the Minister, Deputy Harris, was asked for more time on this. We were told that it had to be passed by the recess and, in order for amendments to be taken and potentially debated in the Dáil, we were under time pressure to get those back next week.