Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Sinn Féin Members are opposed to facilitating the Social Welfare Bill and the pensions insolvency payments scheme included therein which most certainly should be taken as separate legislation and not incorporated in the Social Welfare Bill. We are not prepared to support the measures included in the Social Welfare Bill or to facilitate its passage. I would be surprised if other voices on the Opposition benches did not take that view.

The whole proposition contained in No. 1, in terms of the time up to midnight, is only an accommodation in regard to what is proposed in No. 4 which is to guillotine the Final Stages of the Social Welfare Bill. The Sinn Féin Members are absolutely and vehemently opposed to what is incorporated in these propositions.

In adding our voice to the appeal to separate the pensions insolvency payment scheme out into separate legislation and to address the Social Welfare Bill and all its elements as stand alone, we strongly opposite the notion of a guillotine and ask for full opportunity and participation, given the enormity of what is involved in this legislation.

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