Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I note from the draft schedule for next week that it is intended to introduce the social welfare Bill at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday and to have it concluded on Thursday. Will the Tánaiste indicate at what stage of preparation is the finance Bill at the moment? Will the Tánaiste indicate to the House what date in January the Dáil will resume, at which stage the finance Bill will be taken? On the original calendar of events the Dáil was not due to return until mid to late January. The commitments given by the Taoiseach for a general election, presumably in February, would warrant the Dáil being recalled at an earlier date to deal properly with the finance Bill. My view was that we could have dealt with it in a slimmed down version but the Government does not accept that. Will the Tánaiste indicate if the Government has decided on what date in January the Dáil will be recalled? At what stage is the preparation of the finance Bill at the moment?

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