Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

My question relates to a proposal the Leader has put forward on the Order of Business. We understand why people did not want Report Stage of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 to be taken immediately after Committee Stage. Regardless of what the Leader might say, effectively a guillotine was applied in respect of the Bill.

The Leader previously gave assurances to the House that it would only be in rare or exceptional circumstances that we would be obliged to deal with all Stages of a Bill in one day. However, he is at it again because he has proposed that all Stages of the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2009 be taken today. When other Senators and I sought clarification in respect of this matter recently, I thought the Leader had indicated that this would no longer happen. In such circumstances, I support the calls that the Seanad should sit next week.

Senators Prendergast and O'Sullivan highlighted the need to debate the proposals contained in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, which is also known as an bord snip nua. Senator O'Sullivan referred to the leaked proposal in respect of Shannon Development. The report is available to the Cabinet for consideration. In fairness, the Taoiseach publicly stated that the report should be published and made widely available. When will the report be made available to the Members of both Houses? If the Leader does not propose to extend the Seanad sitting into next week - he should do so - when will Members be afforded the opportunity to debate the report, rather than having it debated in public and the House being made irrelevant as a result?