Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday Mr. Michael Cush, SC, commented on behalf of the Government that it had agreed there should be no ratification of the European Stability Mechanism Bill in the Houses until a judgment was made in Pringle v. Government of Ireland and Others. The House will take Committee and Remaining Stages today. Will the Leader ascertain when we will finalise the Bill or deal with motion for earlier signature? On foot of Mr. Michael Cush's comments yesterday, I assume we will not be able to finalise it. It would be greatly appreciated if the Leader would check what is the position. While the Fianna Fáil Party supports the Bill, I would like to find out how the Houses are to proceed.

Will the Leader request that Ministers provide copies of their speeches when they come before the House? Yesterday, two Ministers failed to provide copies of their contributions. As always, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, was good but he was more than halfway through his speech before copies were circulated. I understand the Tánaiste also arrived without copies of his contribution. It is crucial that Senators are able to read Ministers' speeches. While I am not claiming Ministers are being discourteous, it shows courtesy to the House to provide Senators with a written document. Ministers and their officials should be better prepared and copies of speeches should be circulated to all Senators in attendance.

Yesterday was remarkable in that a press conference was held to announce another press conference. This is a first for the Government, although it has many firsts in other areas. On legislation as important as the personal insolvency Bill, the only information we could elicit from the Tánaiste was that it was a "mammoth" Bill and the Taoiseach said nothing more than that the text was 200 pages long.