Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The amendments are ruled out because they would impose a charge on the Exchequer. I can understand the rationale but I believe it is time to look at this rule, especially in the context of the changed political situation. I put it to the Minister that, at a minimum, this regulation preventing Members of the Opposition from putting forward amendments that are a charge on the Exchequer is being very broadly interpreted by the relevant officials. We have put down amendments in the past which by no stretch of the imagination could be deemed to be a charge on the Exchequer, but they were ruled out of order on the one-in-a-million chance that they might be a charge on the Exchequer.

I recall a situation when I was the Minister. Certain amendments were put forward by the Opposition that were ruled out of order since they would impose a charge on the Exchequer. I agreed with those amendments and I did not think they would impose a charge on the Exchequer. The net result was that I had to bring an amendment on Report Stage because I agreed with the amendments being put forward. It is high time we looked at that.

There is a more general point about the amendments. Deputy Brady is right. Since we introduced the practice of October budgets it has been automatic that increases come into effect from 1 January. Obviously, this is a departure from that situation. In my view, it is an unwelcome departure. If the budget is in October, even late October, pensioners and those reliant on social welfare are entitled to assume that an increase in their social welfare will be an increase for the year beginning 1 January. I call on the Minister to give an indication that it is his intention to revert to the logical system whereby changes in an October budget will come into effect from 1 January rather than six months later.