Deputies O'Dea and Dooley had their hands up together so whichever one wants to go first can do so. I do not want to show a preference. They hit the line together. It was a photo finish.

Last week in the Taoiseach's absence on what I am sure is very important national business, we debated yet another Social Welfare Bill. The Taoiseach will be interested to know that on the first day that Second Stage of that Bill was taken, I received a communication from the Whip's office asking me to put forward amendments because the amendments were being debated at 1 p.m. The Taoiseach will be aware that there is a direct commitment in the programme for Government to allow at least a fortnight for a period of reflection between Second Stage and Committee Stage of legislation. The Government is at least 75% through its lifetime and it is still shunting legislation through in this fashion.

I think the Deputy has made his point.

Does the Taoiseach think this is acceptable and when will this change come about? I have been asking about it for six months.

Social welfare arises at different times. They try to keep the two-week gap mentioned by the Deputy. I do not think it never happens with social welfare but it is different from a normal Bill because there are timelines and payments to be made. I regret if the Deputy is upset about it. The barrage last year used to be about Bills being guillotined. We have not had any of that. I take the Deputy's point but social welfare is a different kind of Bill.

The Deputy made his point and the Taoiseach has taken it on board.