Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not perfect. I fully concede that point. I accept that this Bill deals with an entirely different matter but the difficulty is time. Given the different financial year we now have, the Finance Bill will be going through the House between now and December. That has changed the parliamentary cycle in terms of the Finance Bill, although that Bill is not the ideal vehicle for this provision either. I concede that it is not a perfect solution but we must have a legislative basis for making these payments when they fall due in July. That is part of our obligation as a country coming out of a bailout programme. It is important that we meet those obligations and I know Deputy Doherty fully supports what we are doing by way of the SMP portfolio. If it could be done differently, we would have done so. I referred to this issue by way of providing information to the committee but ultimately it will be coming before the House. It will be for the House to determine whether permission will be given to change the Long Title of the Bill and to change the legislation to include this provision for the purposes of the payment. That will be a matter for the House to decide.