David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I fail to see what is wrong with the Minister for Finance coming to the House to discuss alternatives not only from political parties or groupings, but to give all of us an opportunity to present to the Minister all the options and alternatives proposed by advocate groups throughout the country. How many meetings have taken place in this building at which groups have come in to discuss their alternative proposals? Yet, we have not had one chance to discuss any of these with the Minister for Finance. It is not good enough that discussions can take place in a German Parliament but not in this House where they should take place.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business so that the Minister for Finance should come in today to discuss pre-budget alternatives and so that Sinn Féin should be given five minutes speaking time. This matter was voted on last week. We sought five minutes when group spokespersons are being given eight minutes. We wrote to the Leader and the Cathaoirleach to get speaking time on important issues. Perhaps we should have written to Angela Merkel because we may have secured more speaking time that way.