We are opposing this Financial Resolution because we think it is improper that money should be spent under a Bill which will not reflect the will of the Oireachtas because of the method of its introduction and its proposed passage through the House. It is clear that this is a Bill which was introduced in one form by the Government under a Whips' vote, and having been brought through on that basis we will be debating it in Committee on a free vote basis. At best this is constitutionally anomalous and it is certainly an improper procedure as far as the House is concerned. We do not accept that money should be spent in these circumstances. We are entitled to oppose the Financial Resolution and to state our reasons for so doing. In our view, if there had been a free vote a different Bill would have come through this House and it would have represented the will of this House. The Bill we now have does not reflect the will of this House. The effect of the procedure adopted by the Government has been, therefore, to vitiate any possibility of the will of this House being achieved. It is improper that money should be spent on something that does not reflect the will of the Oireachtas.
I accept that I cannot proceed to elaborate these points further at this time. I would wish to do so and feel that the rules of the House are inadequate in that they make no provision for what is admittedly an unprecedented event, changing the character of a Bill at this point. I had hoped it would have been possible, because of the unprecedented nature of the situation, for me to develop the matter further. I defer to the Chair's ruling, however, and reluctantly will give my reasons outside the House that I would have wished to give more fully in the House. I do not wish to be out of order and, therefore, have no alternative but to develop the points I want to make in another place. It is a pity——
