Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There is a long-standing practice which I understood Government had accepted that there would be a period of two weeks between the publication of a Bill and the commencement of Second Stage, except when emergency legislation was required. Normal practice allows a decent time for Committee and Report Stages. The Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill has not yet been published. The Tánaiste says its political direction and main content have been known for some time which makes one wonder why it has not been published, particularly if it is intended to take it before Christmas. If the Government wants a serious political row before Christmas it will get it on this Bill because organisations representing elderly people want an opportunity to consult on and discuss it, as do we. This affects many families.

It is too clever a trick to move the Bill and get it done before Christmas and hope that the flak dies down. It will not. When will it be published? Will the Tánaiste assure me that it will not be rushed and guillotined through the House and that the two week convention will apply between its publication and the start of Second Stage?

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