On this stage, I understand that we can speak only on what is in the Bill and not what we would wish to see in it. I must confess that I rather plagued the House all during this measure about what is in the Bill rather than what is not in it. On this Final Stage, I should like to express my disappointment that the Minister has not seen fit to put down an appropriate amendment to sub-section (f) of Section 10. We discussed that at the last meeting of the Seanad and the Minister promised to consider it. I think it was made quite clear from all sides exactly what the feeling of the House was in regard to that matter. I can only express my deep disappointment that the Minister has not had regard to what were obviously the views of the House and put down the appropriate amendment which was suggested.
However, I do not think any of us would wish to hold up what is good in the Bill for what are obviously very serious shortcomings. All I could have hoped to do here was to point out the shortcomings and I hope I have done that adequately. If I did not satisfy the Minister on the point, I feel that I have satisfied a lot of people in the House as to these shortcomings.
As the Bill is now about to pass, might I say that I am sorry the shortcomings are still in the Bill, sorry that I have not presuaded the Minister to make the appropriate amendment to this sub-section and sorry, too, that I should have in my ignorance done something by questioning the ruling of the Cathaoirleach at the start of the Committee Stage? I know that I was treated with gentleness which I probably did not deserve as I was probably out of order. I will cease on that point and express my disappointment again that the Minister has not had regard to the views expressed all round this House in regard to sub-section (f) and has not brought forward the appropriate amendment. I am sure he has since the last meeting given further consideration to the matter, but, as no amendment appeared on the Order Paper for Report Stage, we can take it that he has set his face dead against it.