Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am disappointed with Deputy Gilmore's concluding remarks. The Government proposal is a compromise to the various suggestions floating around. The Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m. to discuss the timing and processing of Committee Stage of the NAMA Bill. It is expected the committee will agree to meet at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday morning in the Dáil Chamber to begin debate on the amendments and that it will continue its debate on the amendments next week. That is the proposal we are putting to the House. We believe it is the best compromise in respect of all proposals put to the Whip. It is in the interests of getting agreement that this proposal is being put to the House. The select committee will allow other Members who wish to contribute in the House to do so. It will also give the Bill the prominence and time people expect.

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