Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Second Stage debate on the Bill in question lasted six and a half hours. The Committee Stage debate on the Bill lasted all day last Thursday and resumed at 3 p.m. on Monday of this week. All of the issues have been articulated, addressed and discussed. The Report Stage debate will take place today to finalise the legislation. Deputies will appreciate that the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010 has to be enacted within a certain timeframe. That is why we have to proceed. It is incorrect to suggest, as has been suggested in this House, that there has been no debate on this Bill. It is totally incorrect to suggest that any disrespect has been shown to those on social welfare. The Government's record on social welfare provision over the past ten years has been far greater than anything Deputy Gilmore ever achieved when he was in office.

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