Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before we agree, and I am not going to block it, I wish to highlight that I am concerned about this practice. I am disappointed to see it come from this Department but it has come systematically from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and others where there have been very large-scale changes and additions to Bills, additional provisions and amendments and whole new areas of work tagged on to legislation at a very late stage, in this case midway through Report Stage in the Seanad. This does not allow for proper scrutiny, which means things are not being captured in pre-legislative scrutiny. It is poor practice and it needs to be noted and commented that it will be a very poor legacy from this Government if a new way of curtailing proper parliamentary process becomes codified and regular. I will not object in this instance but I do want to note it.