Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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I disagree with the interpretation. I understand the rule that members cannot introduce amendments that impose a potential charge on the Exchequer. The Government is elected to spend public money and if the Opposition was given the power to spend public money, God only knows where it would stop. However, we are carrying this to extremes. Presumably the interpretation came from the Bills Office but it is false. It is a false interpretation of my amendment, which I carefully drafted.

All I am asking is that the Minister should review all expenditure with a view to restoring the payments. I am not asking that the payments be restored immediately, in a month or in six months. I am simply asking for a review and, from what the Minister told us, she is probably doing it already. I am sure she would be happy to restore the payments and, in her heart of hearts, she intends to do so in due course. I do not understand where the charge on the Exchequer is coming from. I bow to the ruling. I must accept it but we must really look at the rule again as it is being taken to extremes.