Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Perhaps I might put this to the Ceann Comhairle. The only circumstance in which his office might require Report Stage amendments to be tabled by next Friday would be a guillotined Committee Stage in the House. If it were envisaged that the Bill go to the select committee in the normal way, we would have a normal Report Stage. However, if Committee and Report Stage amendments are required to a Bill that we have only just received, we will be incapable of addressing any issues that arise during the debate, since we will hardly have started. This legislation is fundamental, and I ask the Taoiseach to grant us enough time for a Committee and Report Stage debate on the matter.

See this speech in context