Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I strongly object to the ordering of business today, which ultimately is a sham because the Government will state it is providing additional time to address the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill, which provides for the cuts to public service workers' pay. It will do nothing of the kind. The imposition of guillotines in the House for each of the Stages is having such an effect that it mirrors what happened last week in respect of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill. Great numbers of Deputies on all sides will not have an opportunity to participate. The Bills that are being introduced are extremely important, as the consequences of the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill and the Bill pertaining to the cuts in public service pay will be absolutely devastating for entire families. The Government is driving people into poverty and despair by its current policy pursuits and this is an absolute disgrace. The entire institution of the Houses of the Oireachtas is being denied the opportunity to properly challenge or to put forward their case once again, however late in the day. If there is a chance of the Government listening, Members still have a duty and responsibility to provide focused opposition but they are being denied the oxygen of this opportunity to properly debate what is involved by such curtailment motions in respect of time.

The Government's unwillingness to ensure the wealthy in Irish society shoulder a greater burden-----

See this speech in context