I must remark on this week's lack of business. I have asked the Taoiseach on a number of occasions if he could schedule an urgent debate on the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report, which is almost four weeks old. It goes to the heart of some of the significant economic challenges we face and it voices significant concerns. I would have thought we could have had the debate yesterday or today, so important is that report as an independent, objective assessment of where we are fiscally and so on.

I refer to forthcoming legislation relating to children. People are worried about what they are reading and about the leaks concerning significant reductions in child benefit payments down to €100 with a scheme of top-ups. Will the Tánaiste confirm when the Children First Bill is coming on stream? Will he confirm whether there will be reductions in child benefit in the forthcoming budget?

That is not in order on the Order of Business.

With regard to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report, the Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2012 will be in the House next week and that will give Members an opportunity to debate the report and it is also intended to hold a debate reasonably soon on the economic situation- it is a matter for the Whips to agree the timing of it - and this can obviously include the report.

The Taoiseach undertook that there would be a debate specifically on the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report, not the Bill. There are concerns in that report and issues that need airing and articulation. The goalposts are changing.

There is quite a degree of latitude when Second Stage of a Bill is debated. The Fiscal Responsibility Bill will be in the House next week. It would be extraordinary if that debate did not include reference and discussion of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report but, in any event, it is our intention that there will be a wider debate on the economy, which will obviously include the report.

The Deputy asked me about child benefit-----

We are on the Order of Business and we do not deal with such matters.

It is amazing what a period in opposition will do for one's amnesia.

There are many comedians in the House today.

Deputy Gilmore has forgotten about his past.