Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I repeat that no piece of legislation that has gone through this House since the foundation of the State has ever cost in the region of what this is likely to cost, whether €40 billion, €50 billion or €60 billion. The Bill presented to us today will eventually be debated by force of vote in the House. As I understand it, the Bill does not have the total support of the Government, nor does it have the full support of members of the Taoiseach's party, some of whom have pointed out that changes should be made. This Bill, therefore, is not an agreed conclusion of the Cabinet. This is not the way we should do business regarding a matter that is as fundamentally important to our country and all our citizens and taxpayers as this one.

I ask the Taoiseach to respond on the basis of whether this is the agreed position to be debated. As an Opposition party, we have not had full disclosure of the circumstances in which this arose. I am concerned by reports that some people seem to have freedom of access to the higher echelons of Government on a regular basis. I am concerned that there is no independent review by the Oireachtas of the appeal system. On that basis, I oppose the taking of the Order for Second Stage.

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