Yesterday on the Order of Business the House sent its good wishes to the Taoiseach and Tanáiste for their talks in London. This morning all parties would like to join in congratulating the Taoiseach, the Tanáiste and their team on a good day's work which is for the good of all people in this country. It is also important to remember that what happened yesterday is only the beginning of a process to establish a framework. It is not a submission and a lot of hard work must be done between now and the attaining of concrete results. We also send our wishes to those who are involved in that process. I agree with the Leader of the House that it would be better to have a debate on this issue next week after we have had time to reflect on the situation. I hope we have a full, comprehensive and constructive debate on this subject next week.
In the spirit prevailing today and in view of the non-contentious nature of the legislation, I will not oppose taking the two Bills. Senator Quinn said yesterday that it may be useful to have a break between Second Stage and Committee Stage. It would help if this could be arranged by the Whips.
The Leader of the House said, and I agree with him, that each year legislation is rushed through the House. At the beginning of each session we warn that this will happen and every year Bills come late to the House.
I want to refer briefly to next week's business, although it is not appropriate to today's Order of Business. Next week a number of Bills must be passed. We have been told that the Attorney General wants a particular Bill passed by the end of the year. If this is the case, why did the Bill not come to the House earlier? Why should this House bear the brunt of the incompetence of Departments who rush in at the end of the year and expect us to rubber stamp their legislation? I know this is not the Leader's fault and it has been happening for a long time. I resent being told by civil servants in a roundabout way that the Minister or the Attorney General must have a Bill by a certain date. Why must he have it by a certain date? Why was it not introduced earlier? All parties share the grievance about being used in this way by Departments. I want a fuller explanation from the Attorney General as to why this Bill is so urgent and must be passed next week.
I also signalled yesterday that there is increasing unease among Members of all parties about certain sections of the Bill dealing with the allowance for office holders which will be before the House next week. I refer to the position of secretaries. It would be useful to have an all party discussion on that before the Bill is presented to the House. I am aware, from conversations with people from all parties, that there is a great deal of unease and unhappiness about some of the proposals contained in two sections of the Bill; everyone knows the two sections to which I refer. The implications of the Bill should be teased out. It should not be rushed through.
Finally, I am interested to note that the intervention of my colleague, Senator Taylor-Quinn, has had some effect.
