Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I wish to comment on the bringing forward of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill which would have clashed with the committee meeting examining the Estimates for the Department of Social Protection. If business is rescheduled there should be consultation with the Whips and the party spokespersons. This is no way to do business. We should have been afforded the courtesy of a telephone call to ask if the meeting could be rescheduled. The Minister agreed to this arrangement, knowing it would mean the principal spokespersons on this side of the House would not be available to attend the committee meeting on the Estimates. He should not have agreed to that and I wish to make that point. The matter was sorted out after much disagreement at the committee this morning.

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