Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Since last September the House has had to be adjourned on a number of occasions because of the lack of legislation coming from the Government. Now, in the week before we rise for Christmas, we have a 29 page Bill which, while the Labour Party agrees in general with its content, is quite complex providing for a new levy system for business and changes in the way in which rates are levied on start-up businesses. If ever a Bill required a proper Committee Stage consideration this one does, not a guillotined debate that will finish an hour and half from now. There is, for example, a new formula in the Bill for the liability on rates which states that it will be A x B + C where C is D x E + F but the A and B is a different A and B to the A and B provided for in section 211 of the principal Act. I do not know if Members on the Government side of the House will be able to explain to businesses in the new year that this legislation was passed in an hour and a half and that we all understand what it means. This Bill requires a proper Committee Stage debate and on behalf of the Labour Party I oppose the guillotine to take all Stages by 7 p.m.

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