Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach said yesterday that there were plans to pass 45 emergency Bills next year in the event of a hard Brexit coming to pass. I have raised this matter with him a number of times and he indicated we would be briefed on it. In the new year, there will be 29 scheduled sitting days between the time the House comes back and 29 March. Is it envisaged that we would pass 45 Bills, sight unseen at this stage, in 29 sitting days? Will the Taoiseach provide comprehensive briefing for the parties in opposition and for his backbenchers in advance of the recess so that we can have the Christmas period to examine and scrutinise measures that might be necessary next year?

I heard the British Secretary of State for Health and Social Care say yesterday that he had become the biggest purchaser of fridges in the world as they stockpile medicines. That is how absurd things have become. We need to know specifically what we must do here to be ready for it and not be inundated by legislation we have not had time to reflect upon when we come back after the recess.

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