Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I also object to this proposal. The Order of Business presented by the Tánaiste is ludicrous. Yesterday we had one and three quarter hours allocated for the debate on the Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 to which there were 84 amendments on Report Stage. Three and a half hours were allocated for the debate on the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2006, to which there were 41 amendments on Report Stage. Today, it is proposed to allocate two to two and a half hours for the debate on the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009, to which there are 18 amendments on Report Stage. It is then proposed to allocate one and a half hours for the debate on Report and Final Stages of the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009 to which there is one amendment. Finally, it is proposed to allocate four and three quarters hours to deal with all Stages of the European Parliament (Irish Constituency Members) Bill 2009, relating to the method of payment to Members of the European Parliament, to which, I understand, no amendments have been tabled.

It would be possible to take these three Bills today without any guillotine if they were ordered the other way around. We could deal quickly with the European Parliament (Irish Constituency Members) Bill 2009 and the one amendment to the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009. That would leave a decent amount of time to deal with the 18 amendments to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009. All of this business could probably be done without any guillotine. However, it seems the business of the House is being ordered for the convenience of Ministers, not with a view to dealing comprehensively with legislation.

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