Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This morning, I was circulated with a proposed Order of Business for Thursday and Friday. Friday's business was supposed to include the Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2009, statements on a carbon budget and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009. Can I take it that is no longer valid in view of the statements made in respect of the social welfare Bill?

The usual procedure in the House for years was that following the presentation of the budget by the Minister for Finance and contributions by Opposition spokespersons, the budget debate began the following day and lasted, at one time, for weeks but, in latter years, for a week or so. Is that being changed? What is the proposal to deal with Thursday's business? Will it just be leader's speeches on the budget followed by the introduction of the social welfare Bill because the implications of this are serious?

Arising from the statement of the Minister for Finance tomorrow, is it intended to introduce an emergency measures Bill to deal with a reduction in the public service bill? If, tomorrow, the Minister for Finance indicates a reduction in public sector pay, I understand it will be necessary to introduce an emergency measures Bill. If this is the case, when is it intended to take that Bill?

It is now accepted by the Government that reform of the public service, or a more effective public service, is fundamental to moving the country forward and getting out of the economic difficulty we are in. It is more than six years since I pointed out that if benchmarking were to be paid it should be contingent on efficiencies and achieving targets in the public sector. That did not happen. In view of the Government's acceptance of the fact that we must have public sector and service reform now, how is it proposed to present that in view of the collapse of the social partnership model as applied heretofore?

See this speech in context