Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. Senator Currie outlined concerns and the fact that things have actually been moving in the wrong direction. Considerations regarding health concerns and other matters have been taken out. Some of our amendments propose big changes, which we think are necessary, but we also have amendments that propose things like changing timeframes from six weeks to 12. Such changes can make a small difference and would show that some listening is happening. I refer to things like the fees and time periods. There is a lot of detail in the response but it is a blanket "No". That seems to be the attitude of the Government. We are just getting into the second day of however far we get. There is a guillotine coming at the end but, until that guillotine comes, I hope the Government will indicate a willingness to consider amendments because, so far, there has been no indication that they have been read or considered. I say that with respect but the Government has got stuff wrong. It took stuff on in the Dáil.

The Seanad is not a rubber stamp. We need a little more engagement and not an automatic, ""We are happy with our Bill. We are just ploughing it through and we have to sit through three days listening to ye". We need more genuine engagement as we go forward in the remaining 15 hours or so.