The Minister, in the earlier part of his reply, indicated that all of the countries of the EC had signed the agreement and that it was now no longer open to amendment. Is he telling us that, even though it is coming before this House for debate and ratification by this House, there will be no opportunity for this House to alter or delete any part of it whatsoever? If so, what is the purpose of bringing it before this House?

It is not open to amendment in this House, nor in the Parliament of any one of the other member states. But it is open to rejection. Any one of the Parliaments can reject the Act in whole and if that happens then, of course, it would not have been ratified by one of the Twelve and therefore it would not come into operation on 1 January next.

In regard to the European Act, what is the timescale and when can we expect that it will be brought before the House for this rubber stamp ratification procedure?

I would not like to refer to Dáil Éireann as a rubber stamp. This is a Parliament. It makes its decisions. The Government Parties will obviously be voting for it. But this is not a rubber stamp and I would object very strongly to the Parliament being described like that. As far as the timescale is concerned, I would hope to have the legislation——

I did not describe the Parliament as a rubber stamp. I said it is a rubber stamp procedure.

That is not what the Deputy said.

That is exactly what I said.

I hope to have it before the House before the summer. That is my intention.