Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Sinn Féin Deputies do not agree to the Order Paper as presented by the Tánaiste this morning. Very simply, we oppose the NAMA proposition absolutely and the guillotine to be applied. Make no mistake about it, 37 amendments coming back from the Seanad is tantamount to an acknowledgement — an admission on the part of the Government because they are Government amendments — that what was discussed and processed through this House was flawed and that many elements needed further address, as they still do if this is the approach to be taken.

The 37 amendments make a significant body of work to be addressed here over a very limited number of hours. Let me remind the House that only 17 of the approximately 200 amendments presented on Report Stage were dealt with substantively during the passage of NAMA through this House and that was over a number of days. Here, we are being asked to address 37 amendments referred back to this House from the Upper House in a matter of a few hours. This is indicative of the Government's attitude to this, which is to railroad, steam-roll and have its way no matter what. Very simply, if it is voted on to proceed in a matter of hours to address what is involved in this body of amendments, it will be clear that there is no regard whatsoever for real and responsible address of what is at the core of NAMA. We cannot accept it under any circumstances.

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