Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

On a point of order, when we completed Second Stage of the NAMA legislation yesterday evening, Deputy Burton raised the issue about the lack of time for the preparation of Committee Stage amendments. This Department of Finance document regarding the NAMA business plan has no author or status attached to it. It was circulated by the Minister for Finance at 6.55 p.m. last night, five minutes before the vote on Second Stage after 29 hours of debate in the House. The document has not been laid before the House and it is not listed on the Order Paper.

The difficulty is there is a requirement that when amendments are proposed to a Bill, they may not impose a charge on the State. It is difficult for any of the Opposition spokespersons to craft amendments to the NAMA legislation and have them debated on Committee Stage when this document of uncertain origin and which has not been laid before the House may be used as a justification for ruling them out of order on the grounds they may impose a charge on the State. We need clarification on this matter before Members prepare their amendments. What is the status of this document? Who is its author? Has it been laid before the House? Will it be used as a basis for determining whether Opposition amendments are considered to be a charge on the State?

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