Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I understand from the replies given by the Taoiseach during Question Time that it is intended the Minister for Defence will make a statement later this evening on this issue. I also understand that it is not intended that there would be any opportunity for questions to be put to the Minister for Defence or for any statements to be made in response to his statement to the House. That is not an acceptable arrangement for dealing with this matter. For that reason, the Labour Party is opposed to the Order of Business the Taoiseach has put before us.

I also draw the Taoiseach's attention to the precedent that has already been established for dealing with statements from Ministers who find themselves in controversy of this kind. On 10 September-----

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