Page 2912 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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adequate time for consultation and liaison with those affected has been provided. There has been research, consideration of the effects of the proposed legislation and, in many cases, a balanced media reporting in the preparation of appropriate amendments. If Mr Stevenson is unhappy with the time that has been allowed for the consideration of Bills, I would point out that it is his responsibility and that of other people in the Opposition, as elected representatives, to ensure that this is brought to the attention of the Government and to seek either an extension of the period of debate, or a referral of the Bill to a select committee for consideration or public consultation. I note in that regard that not one Bill introduced this year has been referred to a select committee for consideration.
Mr Stevenson: I was trying to do it today, Bill, but it was blocked.
MR STEFANIAK: One has not got there yet, Dennis. The standing orders provide many opportunities for members of this Assembly to intervene to delay the passage of any Bill and to allow more time for consideration of it. If the Government is sometimes slow to utilise these procedures and provisions itself, one should remember that the Government, through the responsible Minister, has usually had months to consider the Bill, often including a period of intensive public consultation, before it has been introduced. There are several Bills which have been delayed, Mr Stevenson, as you no doubt would be aware. The most notable, I think, is the firearms Bill which has gone through extensive consultation. As a result of that consultation the Deputy Chief Minister has arranged for a large number of amendments to be done. This is one example.
Only in exceptional circumstances would the Government seek the Assembly's leave for the debate to proceed immediately following presentation of the Bill. In nearly all circumstances there is an adjournment, to allow the members of the Assembly, the relevant interest groups and the public the opportunity to examine the Bill. Any member may seek to extend that adjournment if they feel it necessary. At the in-principle agreement debate stage, any member may propose a reasonable amendment in accordance with standing order 173 which may require the redrafting of the Bill and prevent it proceeding further. When I was in the chair in the last sittings Mr Connolly raised a number of matters in relation to three Bills. He spoke with Mr Collaery; those Bills are being redrafted and that affects several other Bills, too. This is an example of that.
Following the in-principle debate, any member may move that the Bill be referred to a select or standing committee. Referring a Bill to a select committee will enable full consideration of the subject matter of the Bill from a policy perspective and will provide an avenue by which public submissions on the content of the Bill may be r
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