Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Whatever Deputies think about the process, we have always had a budget debate, a Second Stage debate on the Finance Bill and a three-day Committee Stage debate and it has always been the practice that Opposition spokespersons can discuss whichever sections they wish to concentrate on, and that is usually agreed without difficulty. The same applies for this Bill. The House is sitting late tonight to deal with this Bill whereas business would normally conclude at 7 p.m. The social welfare Bill and the Neary report will be dealt with tomorrow. The House is obliged by statutory and constitutional rules to conclude discussion of the Finance Bill. In an ideal world it would be preferable if every section of the Bill were debated at length, but that is neither possible nor feasible and that has always been the case.

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