Vol. 506 No. 5
I move amendment No. 1:
In page 4, subsection (2), line 13, after "Acts" to insert ", 1999".
This is a technical amendment. As the principal Act was passed this year and this amending Bill will also be passed this year, only one year will be referred to in the collective citations.
I move amendment No. 2:
In page 4, subsection (3), line 15, after "Minister" to insert "for Finance".
This amendment seeks to identify the Minister for Finance as the Minister who will make the commencement order.
May I raise a general question in relation to the possibility that this Bill may not be relevant if the Agreement is postponed for whatever reason? The work being carried out by the Combat Poverty Agency and ADM—
This matter does not arise under section 3. The Deputy will have an opportunity to raise it on Fifth Stage.
Although I have grave doubts about the Agreement, I hope I am wrong for the sake of the Border regions—
This matter does not arise under section 3 of the Bill. When we come to the Bill again, the Deputy will have an opportunity to comment on it. We are obviously not going to conclude the Bill now.
We should try to conclude it now if that is possible.
Unfortunately, Standing Orders prevent us from concluding the Bill now.
We have one minute remaining.
We only have 20 seconds. If Members wish to comment on Fifth Stage, it would not be fair to conclude the Bill now.
That is not essential.
Amendments Nos. 3, 4 and 5 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I move amendment No. 3:
In page 4, line 21, to delete "18th" and substitute "18".
The amendments are necessary to ensure consistency with the original letters.
I move amendment No. 4:
In page 5, line 1, to delete "18th" and substitute "18".
I move amendment No. 5:
In page 5, line 4, to delete "18th" and substitute "18".
I am sorry I came late to the debate. I am not au fait with the Bill but I want to say a few words about the recent charade at Templetown Strand in my home county. The IRA's declaration of the location of the body of the unfortunate Mrs. McConville was the cruellest in the last 35 years. To see an entire family assembled on a Saturday afternoon saying the rosary and praying that the body of their mother would be revealed while the Irish Dr. Mengele, the Angel of Death, Gerry Adams, was canvassing one mile away in the villages of Greenore and Carlingford was heart-rending. Democracry has many defects when this can happen. He should have been on his knees with a pick and shovel helping to reveal the resting place of that unfortunate woman. To subject her family to a fortnight of anguish was an absolute disgrace in a civilised country.
Time is against the Deputy. We can either adjourn or conclude the debate as only the Title remains. We cannot allow the debate to continue; we are already into Private Members' time.
Can it continue tomorrow morning?
Will we adjourn the debate?
Yes.
