I have to emphasise my disappointment at the Minister's inability to reply to the points raised on Second Stage. Will the Minister give me a more satisfactory explanation then he has up to now?
Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill, 1985: Committee and Final Stages.
Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."
The understanding was that it was quite unusual for a substitute to be put in in the middle of a reply to the Second Stage of a Bill and I could have been ruled out of order had I not got the permission of the House. By agreement it was decided that I should make a very brief reply in order to allow me pass on my thanks to Deputies who had contributed to the Bill and who had been helpful on Second Stage and to allow me to indicate that we have another Bill, a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, to which the various points raised in relation to the building and construction industry are more appropriate. I hope we will debate that Bill in the House before the recess and we will have an opportunity then to deal with the points made by Deputy Molloy and other speakers at greater length, rather than be interrupted and told now that it is not pertinent to this Bill.
I accept that we raised many points on Second Stage which would be more relevant to the housing Bill which has been circulated. It would be helpful if the Minister could reply to those on that occasion, but other points relating strictly to the provisions of this Bill were made. If the Minister is not able to reply because of what happened I accept it, but in my experience both Ministers sit in the one Department and if the Minister of State, Deputy O'Brien, had prepared his reply to the debate and was unable to be here to deliver it, surely it would have been possible for the Minister to have delivered that reply.
An agreement was reached in order that I could reply.
I will not delay the House further on it.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 2 to 4, inclusive, agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment and passed.