(Cavan-Monaghan): It transpired during the course of the debate on this section on the last occasion that it is proposed to operate the Bill through a map referred to in the definition section and other sections. It also transpired that the map had not been circulated with the Bill, that it was tucked away in the Valuation Office or the Ordnance Survey Office but was not available to Members. I pointed out that the Bill without the map was meaningless. The Minister then produced a map which was available to him but not to any other Member. I thanked the Minister for that gesture but pointed out that the map should be circulated to each Member. The Minister told me that he had no intention of circulating the map to each Member but would give the map to those he considered interested in the Bill. Apparently, he had decided that only Members representing the constituency of Wexford had any interest in the Bill and, consequently, a right to a copy of the map. He picked me out for VIP treatment and sent me a copy of the map. He also sent a copy to his three colleagues in the Wexford constituency.
I should like to record in a serious way my view that this is no way to treat this House. The Minister of State, or any Minister, in charge of a Bill does not have a right to decide who is or is not interested in a Bill. The Minister must take it that every Member is interested in what is taking place in the House. If Members are not they are guilty of a dereliction of their duty. I am moving that Committee Stage be adjourned until such time as the map is circulated to all Members. I ask the Chair to rule accordingly. Without the map the Bill is meaningless and unintelligible. Members cannot consider it in a sensible, reasonable or rational way without the map.
