Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are two questions, one on the ordering of business and the other on pending legislation. The Taoiseach is aware that local authorities across the State are preparing budgets and organising workshops and there is much anger evident among local authority members because they are doing this work in a vacuum as the local government fund has not been announced. There is a feeling the water services (No. 2) Bill which is to be published in this quarter and needs to be passed through both Houses to transfer assets from local authorities is connected to this issue. Will the Taoiseach confirm when he expects to see full passage of the Bill? Is its passage connected with the announcement which is eagerly awaited by local authority members on the local authority fund? Will the Taoiseach shine some light on when local authorities will know about it, as many managers thought they would have known by now?

There is a change to the Order of Business for tomorrow. I welcome the proposed discussion on the credit line. As I have indicated before, we support the end result in that respect. We need to have an informed discussion. I know that last week the Minister stated in the media that the options being examined by the Cabinet would be published. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether these options will be laid before the House this evening in order that we can have an informed debate tomorrow on why we did not seek a second bailout or credit line?

See this speech in context