Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Labour Party does not agree to the guillotining of Second Stage of this Bill at 10.30 p.m. This legislation, which is now called the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009, introduces the so-called levy. The proposal will permit a maximum of two speaking places for Labour Party Members, most of whom would like to contribute to the debate on Second Stage. That will not be possible under the proposed arrangements.

This weekend, 120,000 people took to the streets of Dublin in support of the proposals made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. It is fair to say the protest was prompted by the measures provided for in this Bill. The matter is of considerable public interest, but the House will not do it justice by guillotining debate at 10.30 tonight. The Labour Party is opposed to that guillotine.

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