Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business tomorrow will be dealt with. It is important to point out that yesterday I met the social partners and asked them to engage in a process, which they agreed to do. I will set out the shape of that debate by issuing a framework for those discussions which will be ongoing over Christmas and into January. That is the right way to proceed. As a result of those discussions bringing forward a comprehensive approach containing an input from all the social partners on the issues, there will be an opportunity available to the House to discuss this when we come back. That is the time when we should do so.

With regard to the question of statements, as a result of a query made yesterday, I said I would agree that we could have them if Members wanted to have statements on this matter and put their views on the record of the House. The Chief Whip has accommodated this and has provided for time tomorrow in what is a very busy schedule as we head into the last week of our deliberations for this session. Sixty-five minutes should be sufficient for people to set out their position based on the statement issued on Sunday.

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