Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

This is not agreed. This proposal was probably the most controversial element of the budget that was introduced two months ago. We assumed the Minister for Health and Children would be in a position to introduce legislation at an early date and allow Members on all sides of the House to debate it thoroughly. Instead, the legislation has been introduced at the very last minute, with Second Stage beginning only yesterday. There will be no gap between Second Stage and Committee Stage, as is traditional to allow Deputies to table amendments. Many speakers are being denied the opportunity to speak on the legislation. It is simply unacceptable that major policy changes of this nature are rammed through on a guillotine. If people had their say, the guillotine would be applied to the necks of the 15 Ministers who sat around the Cabinet table and approved this proposal.

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