Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to put the Tánaiste on notice that, although I do not know the details of what is proposed yet, I accept the Bill is open-ended in terms of debate. We will want some time to consider the Bill between Second Stage and Committee Stage for the purpose of drafting amendments, if that is necessary. I hope that, in accordance with the Taoiseach's words today, this Bill will contain the details of a new regulatory regime for the new and complex situation that exists for the Irish taxpayer. I accept the proposal of the Government Whip, but the manner in which the Government has gone about producing this Bill has been absolutely chaotic and smacks of complete leaderless leadership.

This Bill has probably been drafted by the public officials. There does not seem to be any regard for the political elected representatives of the people, whereas I am quite sure the committees of the banks have been in discussion with the Government for the past while. The Government has known what is in this Bill, or what is proposed to be in this Bill, for the past 12 hours, yet it expects members of the Opposition to deal with it adequately in a 12 minute period. That is not good and it is not the way to do business. This is very important legislation and the way the Government has gone about its business today has been absolutely chaotic.

See this speech in context