Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

Yes. The Minister assures us that people will not experience any financial hardship as a consequence of these provisions. Yet the letter I had from the Ceann Comhairle was concerned with reminding me that amendments must be ruled out of order where there is a potential charge on the Exchequer. Those two positions do not marry. The Ceann Comhairle did not make up the content of that letter; he got it from the Department or whoever advises on these matters. Likewise, my colleague, Deputy Noel Coonan, as Vice Chairman of the committee, was acting on advice when he came in after dinner last week and read out a list of amendments which were ruled out of order. That is part of the reason the Committee Stage debate finished early.

See this speech in context