SEANAD REPORT:THE INTOXICATING Liquor Bill was passed amid Opposition claims that the concluding stages of the debate had been marked by high farce.
Critics of the measure had complained that their attempts to amend it were futile because the Dáil was no longer sitting and therefore could not consider any changes made in the Seanad.
An angry Eugene Regan (FG) said he thought that the ultimate proof of the Government's cynical approach was that members on that side of the House had voted against their own amendments.
Mr Regan was referring to a committee stage amendment tabled in the names of Dan Boyle (GP), deputy Government leader in the House, and Mark Daly (FF) relating to the changing of a restricted licence to a full licence.
Mr Daly told the House that he wished to withdraw the proposed amendment.
Feargal Quinn (Ind) then offered to move the amendment but he was told that he could not do so as he did not have the consent of those who had tabled it.
Despite various attempts by Opposition members to have the amendment re-tabled for discussion, Cathaoirleach Pat Moylan ruled it out of order and the Government won a vote on the issue.
Alex White (Lab) said the Government approach had amounted to high farce.
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One taoiseach had been forced from office because of corruption and another might experience the same fate because of incompetence, Fine Gael justice spokesman Eugene Regan said.
Mr Regan's comment led to a series of exchanges with the Cathaoirleach who repeatedly called on him to withdraw what he had said.
"In my opinion the former taoiseach did not have to resign over anything related to corruption in politics," the Cathaoirleach said.
Mr Regan said there was a need to debate the issue of competence in Government, because incompetence carried a serious economic cost.
Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said Mr Regan had been making many great contributions to the House. He asked him to take back what he had said.