Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

We have contacted the Chief Whip's office and we recognise the urgency of dealing with the Social Welfare Bill. We are more than happy to facilitate the passage of that this evening. However, the important provisions in relation to pensions should not be rushed through or form part of the Social Welfare Bill. Given that the legislation has been drafted, why not make it a separate Bill? We will facilitate the Government in taking it in a week or two when we have had time to consider it. It is not, however, unreasonable for us to expect the Taoiseach would allow us time to have an input into this legislation and to give it the kind of consideration and oversight it requires.

We propose the Government hold off on the provisions in regard to pensions and produce those provisions as a separate pensions Bill which could be taken in the next couple of weeks. This is no way to conduct parliamentary business. It shows utter disrespect for the House, members of the Opposition and the spokespersons and it is bad law-making. As we have seen with previous efforts by this Government to rush through legislation in a short period of time, we must revisit it because, inevitably, it is bad legislation when it is rushed.

I put it to the Taoiseach to be reasonable and responsible about this and to allow reasonable time for us to consider the proposals and to deal with them in a separate Bill in the near future.

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