Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I wish to address two points. Will the Acting Leader arrange for a debate on the situation in which we found ourselves last Friday? On the Order of Business, it was clarified by the Leader that no guillotine would be applied to the legislation. Everyone with whom I spoke also had this impression. The House faced a great emergency and the legislation was one of the most serious Bills to be passed since 2002. I was under the impression that a guillotine would not be applied and, unlike in the Dáil, Members would be able to examine all of the issues. However, this did not happen.

During the Order of Business, Senator O'Rourke clearly outlined the situation to the leader of the Opposition when she stated: "We should play it as it goes. We will see how the debate proceeds, who contributes and what time we have available."