Opposition and Cowen have words over Dail 'shutdowns'

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen insisted that "the House is getting through all its legislation very efficiently" as the Dáil adjourned proceedings yesterday for the third time in four sitting days.

As the Opposition demanded to know why the Dáil was "shut down" for almost two hours on Wednesday and for more than an hour last week, Mr Cowen replied, to cheers from the Government side of the House and jeers from the other benches: "It is not my problem if the Opposition is unable to get anyone into the House to say a few words."

After the debate the Dáil again adjourned yesterday afternoon for more than an hour because the scheduled morning's business had been completed.

The Tribunal Bill to give the Government powers to close down tribunals had been scheduled for two days' debate in the House this week, but was postponed.

When the Order of Business started Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded an explanation "as to why the Dáil was shut down yesterday for an extended period of time. There were 16 Bills on the list to go through the Dáil."

He asked: "Is it that the Government has run out of business or they didn't foresee a situation where there was time available in view of all the requests that are made from deputies on all sides."

Mr Cowen replied that he believed "there was no guillotine motion in force yesterday in the House.

"Although Members had an opportunity to speak on the agreed issues, the Opposition did not appear to have much to say about it."

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said "the reason there is no legislation of course, is that the Government has been so preoccupied since the return of the Dáil with saving its own skin that there is no legislation to put to the House." To considerable laughter Mr Rabbitte said: "I understand the House will debate the Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006, which decrees that 'a person who carries out or causes the carrying out of, a nuclear explosion is the State shall be guilty of an offence'. The new provisions will be immensely reassuring to the public. Should we presume it was not an offence up to now?"

Mr Cowen said: "Given the sort of parliamentary party it has I expect the Labour Party will have far more interest in the Nuclear Test Ban Bill 2006 next week than it has in some of today's business."