Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be clear, I am stating that we need a legally robust version of what the Deputy is attempting to do. The limited exemptions we are putting in place are legally robust because they are limited. Let us play it out. We could do it the Deputy's way. We could say we will take some time and bring this into the Seanad on Committee Stage. We will give it a few weeks. That is what it will require, but the Bill will not be passed before the recess. We do not know what is going to happen between September and February. We do not know, but I am not willing to take that risk because if an election is called before we get through all Stages, the Bill, in its entirety, will fall. It will be gone and the next Minister for Health will have to read himself or herself into this entire brief. That takes time when it comes to legislation of this nature.

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