Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I will do so but I ask the Government representative, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, if he would be prepared to amend the Order of Business so that the House could discuss and debate this unprecedented situation. I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is in a difficult position but it is absolutely unprecedented that another member state parliament would have access to our budget details before the Irish Parliament and, if we are to believe Ministers, before the Cabinet has seen them, although I doubt this somehow because the Cabinet would have been aware of the increase in VAT.

See this speech in context