Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I concur with the leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Eamon Gilmore. It has been promised on many occasions today that the Bill would come before the House, yet we have not seen a White Paper, the heads or an explanatory memorandum. It is probably one of the most important Bills we will consider in the House this session and which we have considered in recent years. The Opposition has been very accommodating all day, namely, during Question Time with the Minister for Health and Children at 2.30 p.m. and Leaders' Questions at 3.30 p.m. We were promised we would be given some explanation at 4 p.m. and 4.45 p.m., and then at 5.45 p.m. It is now 6.05 p.m. but we still have no word of what is happening.

I have heard the Bill might have to go through the Houses by midnight tonight. It makes no sense if this important legislation has to go through the Dáil and Seanad before midnight without any of the major Opposition spokespersons having had a chance to examine it properly. This is not how the House should be run. The Government knew about this from late last night or early this morning. It has had every opportunity to have this important legislation prepared to come before the House. I do not accept any excuse whatsoever. The way the House is being run today is shambolic. The Government is going around in a tailspin wondering what is happening.

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