Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Whatever way the Ceann Comhairle wishes to handle it is fine but we have very little time. This is the point I have been making and it is not the first time I have raised this matter. Since the Government has decided the budget will be introduced this week there is very limited time between budget day, tomorrow, and the recess for Christmas to debate the budget. We are now told there will be two very controversial tranches of legislation which the Government intends to rush through the House. In the case of the Social Welfare Bill it wants to have it done and dusted by this weekend.

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