Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Taxation matters are an issue for the Minister for Finance and I do not wish to go into detail on them for the purposes of the Order of Business. In regard to the social welfare Bill, Deputy Ó Snodaigh yesterday raised the issue of whether it would be an omnibus Bill or a series of Bills. The social welfare Bill to which we refer in the context of the budget arises from necessary legislative changes which have to take place as a result of decisions made at budget time. The point I made yesterday was that enactments have to be made before such changes come into effect.

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