Could the Minister deal with Section 1?
Procedure
Before we get involved too deeply in the Bill, may I take it that the procedure which was followed in other Committees of this nature will be followed here, that is, that amendments may be put down to the Bill provided the section has not actually been embarked upon by the Committee?
Yes, provided there is reasonable time. I must ajudicate as to whether it is reasonable. I am sure you will agree that if there is a serious amendment to be put in, the person moving the amendment will want it to be seriously considered. We had hoped that if there were amendments, they would have been in by now. The meeting was postponed to allow the amendments to be put in. I am reasonable and I have been reasonable in the past.
I know, I have had experience of your reasonableness in other capacities. I hope we will have the same informal co-operation in dealing with this Bill as in other Bills because that is the way we can make the best use of Special Committees. I am glad of your assurance, and I recognise that if an amendment is to be put in at a later stage it is only reasonable that the Minister and his advisers will have plenty of opportunity to consider it. I will bear these considerations in mind. The Opposition will give the maximum co-operation in getting the Bill through, but I hope there will be no attempt to rush it because it is a very important measure. I do not know that any particular deadline has to be met, so I hope we can proceed at a reasonable, normal parliamentary pace and give the fullest consideration to the Bill.
I am anxious to have this Bill considered. I have no desire to have it rushed but, at the same time, I would like to have it dealt with by the Committee as quickly as possible. The whole idea of a Special Committee is to assist the speedy passing of a Bill through Parliament. This Bill was introduced in the Seanad and reached its Second Stage on 21st May, 1975. The Committee Stage was cleared in the Seanad on 3rd December, 1975, and the Report Stage was dealt with in the Seanad on 17th December, 1975. The Second Stage was taken in the Dáil on 22nd January and 4th February and the Committee Stage was fixed for an early date in February. The Bill has been available for study by the Opposition in its present state for some considerable time. I have no objection at all to the Opposition putting amendments forward up to the time that the section has been dealt with, provided it does not hold up the reasonable, speedy consideration of the Bill. The first meeting of this Committee was held on 2nd May and the understanding then was that amendments would be in by last Thursday and that we would proceed to consider the Bill today. There was one amendment put down in the name of Deputy Kitt. I propose that we proceed with the Bill today and see how far we get.
I note that specific parts of the Bill will be brought in by ministerial order. Other than in my capacity as a Deputy I am aware that there would be concern in the event of any delay in enabling the Minister to bring in certain parts of the Bill in view of the fact that considerable publicity has been given to rare species of birds and animals. As a result of this publicity rather selfish actions are being perpetrated which are not to the benefit of our wildlife. Therefore, I should hope that the Minister would have power to make a necessary order as soon as possible. I am expressing the view of many voluntary societies and individuals outside this House who are genuinely interested in this field.
I do not want in any way to appear to be impeding the smooth passage of the Bill but it is a non-controversial piece of legislation although it is complicated to the extent that it encompasses many facets of wildlife and of our natural flora and fauna. Also, it has many implications in other directions. However, I am not happy with the Minister's explanation regarding the need to have the Bill rushed through. While committees of this kind are very useful, they are not suited to every piece of legislation. There is also the factor that because of other business it is difficult sometimes for Deputies to attend at committees. For instance, I was unable to be here on the last two occasions because of the business that was before the House then and it is with much difficulty that I have been able to arrange to be here today. The Bill is very interesting so I should not like to see it being rushed through.
I will not allow any rushing of the Bill. It will be given fair consideration but I should hope that there would not be too much concentration on general matters. It is on that basis that I intend to approach the Bill. It will be given fair discussion and I shall listen to any Deputy who requires discussion of any specific aspect of it.
This Bill has been before the public and the Oireachtas for a long time but it is only when we begin to go into the details of it that we realise what it entails.
Let us get on with it then.