Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On a point of order. Deputy Burton had submitted an amendment for Committee Stage, the purpose of which was to require the appointment of an inspector to examine the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank. While Deputy Burton was making her contribution, I was informed by the Bills Office that the amendment was out of order for Committee Stage as it was considered to be outside the scope of the Bill. The only way, therefore, in which we could have this amendment considered is by way of reasoned amendment on Second Stage. That is the amendment moved by Deputy Rabbitte.

Unfortunately, this procedure was forced on us because of the truncated nature of the debate today. It had been our intention to proceed from Second Stage to Committee Stage without division. Unfortunately, the way in which business is being conducted leaves us with no option but to table our Committee Stage amendment as an amendment to Second Stage. By way of courtesy to Members, I wanted to explain why this amendment was circulated in the past few minutes. It is not the Labour Party's fault but simply due to the ruling out of order of a Committee Stage amendment.

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