The Government has abandoned plans to cut off a Dáil debate on a controversial fisheries Bill, following threats of a Fianna Fáil backbench revolt and disruption from Opposition TDs who claimed the Government was rushing through the legislation without proper debate.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has already described the new Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill, 2005, as "draconian", while it has been opposed by a group of 14 Irish MEPs from both sides of the Border.
The proposed fisheries Bill currently multiplies penalties for fishery offences, and empowers the Naval Service to fire into a fishing vessel, rather than across the bow, in certain circumstances.
Last night Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey and the Minister of State at the department, Pat the Cope Gallagher, also gave assurances at a meeting with Fianna Fáil TDs that proposed changes to the Bill would be examined seriously during the next stage of debate next month.
The Government had planned to "guillotine" debate on the Bill at its second stage tomorrow, but following the intervention of Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt, agreement was reached to allow debate to continue into next week, with a full committee stage hearing next month.
There was considerable disquiet at Fianna Fail's weekly parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday about plans to guillotine the debate. Opposition parties had also protested at the planned guillotining, and it is understood that there was a threat to abandon the "pairing system" for TDs, which would have thrown Dáil business into disarray.