Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The order before us is only 45 minutes old. We asked the Government last week for time to debate these matters and it refused. The Government came around to a position of offering a paltry 35 minutes in its entirety. The haggling has gone on for the week and 45 minutes before we come into the House, we find the order provides for the Taoiseach to make a statement for 15 minutes but that the rest of us will only have five minutes. That is inequitable.

The total provision of 45 minutes is entirely inadequate. We required in these circumstances a question and answer facility that is adequate to the gravity of the matter before us. The provision for questions and answers is minimalist, and is even less than was provided by this Taoiseach when last we had a situation like this — concerning former Deputy Ray Burke. It is inadequate, but because of the interest outside the House I do not want to divide the House on it. When the Tánaiste stated he would enforce accountability, it is important to record that the contents of this order do not amount to adequate accountability in these circumstances.

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