The Labour Party has published a draft timetable for the Finance Bill that would enable all stages to be completed by Thursday in the Dail and by Friday in the Seanad. This would allow the Dail to be dissolved on Saturday and an election called for February.
The Labour Party has never accepted the Fianna Fail claim that it would not be possible to have the Finance Bill dealt with by the Dail in one week. The delaying tactic is nothing to do with the devoting more time for the Finance Bill and all about giving more time for Fianna Fail and its leadership election process.
If the political will is there, the debate on the Finance Bill can be completed this week. One of the most complex and detailed pieces of legislation ever dealt with by the Oireachtas (the Credit Institutions Stabilisation Bill) was disposed of in a single day just before Christmas because the government wanted it done.
In order to provide adequate time for a debate on what is an important Bill, the Labour Party would be prepared to cede our three hours of Private Members Time. The timetable we are proposing would also involve setting aside all routine business this week.
The Labour timetable would allow for a total of 26 hours debate on the Bill. If Fianna Fail still believes that this is inadequate, we would be prepared to have the Dail sit even earlier or later. The bottom line for us is that debate on the Finance Bill must be completed by Friday.
I will be bringing this timetable to the meeting with the Minister for Finance and we will be proposing it when the Dail meets tomorrow.
The Labour Party motion of no-confidence remains on the Order Paper and will be taken on Tuesday evening with a vote at 8.30pm on Wednesday, unless we get agreement from Fianna Fail on this timetable.
I want to emphasise that the Labour Party remains strongly opposed to major provisions of the Finance Bill. All we are proposing is an agreed timetable for debate in the Dail. We will table amendments in the normal way and call votes as appropriate.
This shambles of a government has to be brought to an end. Our proposed timetable allows for the orderly closure of the 30th Dail and the election of a new government that can give the country the new start it so desperately needs.