Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It is not agreed. The Order Paper contains two proposals, but it further facilitates the continuing debate on the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009. The Sinn Féin Deputies are not prepared to support the adoption of the Order Paper today. We have obtained, even since last week, information about the suggested cost to the public purse that was not before us then, such as information on contracts that have been concluded with Arthur Cox Solicitors, who are to give advice on NAMA for the future. This is a firm that has already been paid €3.7 million on advice to the Government about the banks. Consultants are also involved at a cost of €2,000 per day. This is a continuation of the very culture that has given rise to what has gone wrong with the economy of this State over the past few years.

We have not been advised on the many more millions of euro that Arthur Cox Solicitors have been granted for the tender to give legal advice on NAMA in the future. These are very important questions that need to be addressed in this House. The information needs to be transparent before the Members in this Chamber. As it is not so, we cannot agree to the Order Paper, which facilitates a continuing Second Stage debate on NAMA. This legislation should be withdrawn because it is fundamentally flawed and will not address the issues with which we must immediately and urgently grapple.

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