Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I understand the urgency but, whatever arrangements are put in place, we must have an opportunity to discuss the important sections and I urge the Taoiseach to ensure that this happens. We cannot have an allocation of time motion that results in a debate on the first two items in the allocation while everything else is lost. There needs to be consensus across the floor to provide an opportunity to debate this legislation fairly and properly.

I welcome the opportunity to have a pre-budget debate but on what basis will we have such a debate? Ministers had to list by 11 September the items in the McCarthy report they would implement. Will that list be available for the pre-budget debate signalled by the Taoiseach in order that we can have a genuine debate about the choices proposed by Ministers and other choices that could be proposed? Will the Government provide the so-called no policy change Estimates, which are meaningless in the current climate? They are useless and meaningless as a tool to assist debate. If the Taoiseach wants a sensible debate, it cannot be on the tried and tested method.

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