Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

We have nine sitting days left until the Government plans to close this House down for the summer. We have been supplied with a draft schedule for three of those days, 17 to 19 June, inclusive, which leaves just six days free for business other than that which the Government has listed for those three days. Will the Tánaiste indicate what business the Government intends to transact in the House between now and the planned rising of the Dáil in early July?

Arising from her earlier reply to me that the Government does not have plans to make a supplementary Budget Statement to the House before the summer, what opportunity will be taken in the Dáil to introduce a comprehensive Government statement of policy on the state of the economy, which is in a completely changing set of circumstances? This is not a matter for discussion between the Whips, I want to know what are the Government's intentions. We have seen the figures in regard to the public finances. People are losing their jobs and they are worried about their businesses——

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