When the debate on this Bill was adjourned, I had finished what I had to say, and I hope some of the things which I was forced to say. I was trying to make the case, in so far as I was allowed to make anything at all, that the Minister on this Bill cannot dismiss the questions which have been put up from this side or the statements made as to the various interpretations which can be placed or which will afterwards be placed either on the section or the amendment in the way he did. I do not think he is properly discharging his duty to the House by refusing to answer the statements which are made from this side of the House, by contenting himself with saying that "this is just pure obstruction by Fine Gael." That is an easy way out for the Minister if he does not want to try and meet the points which are being made. I do not think it is a line which the Minister should take.
I do not think that the Minister himself believes that Deputy Costello would get up in this House and lightly make statements on a section, or on the interpretation of a section, which he did not believe. When the Minister charges Deputy Costello with doing that, I do not believe that the Ministerhimself thinks for a moment that that is what Deputy Costello is trying to do, and nothing more. We get cheap sneers about Fine Gael's attitude in not putting down amendments and at the same time suggesting, as the Minister put it, improvements that could be made.
What Deputy Costello, and other Deputies from this side, have tried to do on this section in particular, is to show the danger that lies in the section. Our consistent line on this matter is based on sound reasons, on reasons which appear at least to us to be sound. We are merely stating views which we are entitled to state, even if certain Deputies do not agree with them. We are being asked, either to support this Bill in its entirely and to accept each section as it stands, or else, to use the Minister's words, "clear out and let the House deal with it." That statement, by the way, was not an original one. That same statement was made on a former occasion by a distinguished predecessor of the Minister's, but it was not we who cleared out.
I think the Minister is not helping the position very much by contenting himself with accusing this Party, and the members of it, with being just in an obstructionist mood, and for that reason, and no other reason, speaking on any section or amendment to this Bill.