Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I commend the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte on his decision yesterday to hold an independent inquiry into the "Prime Time Investigates" programme on Irish missionaries abroad, in light of the judgment in favour of Fr. Kevin Reynolds. It is an important step forward that there is an independent investigation into the matter. I commend the Minister and the Government on taking this welcomed step. The inquiry will carry out its function outside this House.

Every day the media reports on proposals for the budget. Today we read the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly proposes to introduce a €50 charge on medical card holders and a trebling of the prescription fee. These proposed changes were raised at the Fine Gael and Labour Party parliamentary party meetings. We can raise such matters with the Leader, but the problem is that we are not getting a proper debate on the budget proposals. Our Sinn Féin colleagues have asked three times, and we have supported them, to allow a half day pre-budget debate in order that the Opposition parties raise the issues that are being raised by various groups, representative of the elderly and those with disabilities as well as others. I ask the Leader to set aside a half day next week for this pre-budget debate. I know the Minister for Finance will be exceptionally busy and I am not necessarily expecting him or the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come to the House. However, there are other Ministers, for example the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd is effectively without a portfolio as NewERA is not up and running, who could come to this House. If the Leader has the option only of a full day sitting on Monday, I do not mind as this House should have an opportunity to discuss and debate the pre-budget submissions. If we do not, I will raise these issues and call for votes on them each morning.

The Fianna Fáil Party has tabled 75 amendments while the Sinn Féin Party has tabled 24 amendments to the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2010. Committee Stage should not have to conclude today. I see the Leader has allowed time after Private Members' business, which is fine. However, Report and Final Stages will be taken tomorrow. That is not the way to do business. This is not emergency legislation. We have no difficulty in facilitating the Government in introducing emergency legislation, having done so in the past. There is no need to finish Committee Stage of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill today, however.

While I commend the Leader and the other members of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for organising a public consultation in the Chamber tomorrow afternoon, it will only be for two hours. People will be attending from across the country on this matter but we are only providing two hours on it because Report and Final Stages of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill will be taken tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock.

I propose the Leader allows Committee Stage run and the House to sit on Friday and Monday to deal with these amendments properly. At the same time, we should not restrict the time given for tomorrow's public consultation - one of the most important departures the Seanad has taken in how it does its business in several years - with the advocacy groups for the elderly.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that no guillotine be allowed on Committee Stage of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill, that the House sits on Friday, and if necessary on Monday, to deal with all Committee Stage amendments and to deal with Report and Final Stages next Tuesday, thereby ensuring our citizens attending the House tomorrow will have sufficient time to put their cases and views on the elderly and there will be a proper discussion.