Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

We have no information about the impact of the legal structure under which this is proposed. There is no information and very little time. Will the officials of the Minister's Department provide a briefing to Opposition spokespersons on the genuine complexities of this Bill?

People all over Ireland are worried sick this weekend about their jobs, their pay, their conditions and the pensions. Fianna Fáil does not agree but that is a fact. There is nothing wrong in having this explained to Opposition spokespeople so that in the limited time available for this Bill we can engage in genuine discussion. That is a democratic proposal and if the Minister has any interest in building consensus he will concur with this reasonable request from the Opposition.

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