Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I referred to a peaceful protest outside the House here as being probably extremist. I want to apologise to the people who participated in that protest. They were, in fact they were an entirely legitimate and well-intentioned group of people who came to protest. I received an email today from Michelle Keane, who organised it. I want to acknowledge that it was unfair of me to draw that inference from their presence at the gates.

I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business, to delete the words “without debate” from the arrangements in respect of No. 1, to substitute the words “with the debate to conclude at 2 p.m” and to provide that the time limits on Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, be adjusted accordingly. The reason for that is as follows.Unfortunately, the members of the committee have been supplied with a proposed order of business, effectively, for the committee, which is to hear this matter on 23 April, and it envisages only a contribution by the Minister for Justice and questions to be put to her. In my view, such a consideration is not what is envisaged by the Standing Orders of this House. The measure is being sent to the committee for consideration but consideration involves looking at it carefully, taking evidence about it and receiving submissions from the public. On a matter of such importance, which, as I said yesterday, has constitutional status and will deprive Ireland of its sovereign rights in perpetuity in respect of immigration and asylum seeking matters, there should be further consultation. If it is adopted, in future all these regulations will be able to be changed against Ireland's wishes by qualified majority voting, QMV, within the European Union, so we will have lost total control of our own asylum and migration law.