Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is inappropriate to apply a guillotine to this legislation. At this point in time, it is impossible to gauge how long it will take to conclude our consideration of the Finance Bill. It does not matter whether the proposed cut-off time of 7 p.m. is adequate. It is not appropriate for the Government to apply a guillotine. We should have an opportunity to give a full airing to all of the amendments that are to be addressed in course of today's deliberations on the Bill. The Government should accommodate that. The manner in which today's business has been ordered means that the Dáil will adjourn this evening at the conclusion of Private Members' business. The Government could have proposed to sit later to deal with other issues that are less important than the contents of the Finance Bill, but that has not been done. The Government has proposed that the Dáil will rise on the conclusion of Private Members' business, at 8.30 p.m. or perhaps later. It is well within the gift of the Government to allow the legislative process to come to a natural conclusion. That is the preferred approach to this. I oppose the imposition of a guillotine on this important legislation.

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