Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I would have preferred to hear the Minister for Social and Family Affairs on the issue and put supplementary questions to him having regard to Deputy Kenny's request for extended time to allow the Government to clarify the issue, make a statement and allow questions and answers. As Deputy Kenny stated, tribunals clearly cannot go on forever and they are inordinately expensive. There are clear fundamental issues of public interest involved as well. Where modules have been opened, my understanding is that a halt cannot be called by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Government as a whole or even by this House.

See this speech in context