Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The time being provided to address this proposition is wholly inadequate. This is an issue of such enormity that I cannot for the life of me understand why such little time is being provided. After one takes into account the contributions by the main spokespersons, the reply by the Minister for Finance, the fact there are three empty seats in the House and the Ceann Comhairle who does not contribute to debate, that leaves 158 Members to share 70 minutes. If they all wished to participate, that would mean 35 seconds each. I do not know how many will want to participate but I have no doubt that it will be much greater than the time provision allows for something of such gravity in terms of its impact on the lives of ordinary Irish citizens now and into the future. This is totally inadequate time provision.

I never wanted to see this proposition but I believed that once the Government was proceeding with it, it had to be brought before the elected Members of this Chamber. I agree that is required but the Taoiseach is not providing adequate time for Members and I cannot agree to the ordering, given the enormity of what is involved and the fact that it will burden our citizens generationally.

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