Money messages for Private Members' Bills
Deputy Willie O'Dea complained that his pensions Bill had been passed but was stalled awaiting a money message, and other Members repeatedly challenged the Minister on how such messages work. The Minister said a signal from the Dáil is required before legislation can proceed to Committee Stage and insisted the requirement was a long-standing Standing Orders convention.
I would like to make a point similar to that made earlier by Deputy Howlin. I proposed a Bill in this House some months ago to reform the law on the wind-up of defined benefit pension schemes. It was passed by an overwhelming majority of Deputies. I think the only people who voted against it were members of Fine Gael and a few tame Independents. A couple of weeks later, I received correspondence telling me I would have to wait for a money message, which is an animal I had never heard of previously.
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I would say the Deputy is still waiting.
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Yes, I am still waiting. I was told about the need for a money message a few weeks after the Bill was passed and I have heard nothing since. There was no question of the Bill being a charge on the Exchequer because if that were the case, it could not have proceeded to Second Stage. What is this money message? Is it some sort of stunt to prevent Bills from being passed when the Government does not have the numbers to vote them down? I would appreciate clarification on that. If, as he seemed to indicate earlier, the Minister does not know what the position is with regard to money messages, I would appreciate it if he would research it urgently and write to me about it.
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The Deputy has been around here nearly as long as I have. Over that time, it has been common knowledge that one cannot table amendments or legislation if that results in a charge on the people or-----
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The Bill has been passed on Second Stage.
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It has been taken in the House.
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Clearly, there is a requirement for some signal to the Dáil for that to happen.
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It happened on the floor of the Dáil.
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As far as I know, this convention has been in Standing Orders for years.
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The Bill was taken, that is the point.
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It has always been a requirement before legislation proceeds to Committee Stage. It is a long-standing requirement in this House. Deputy O'Dea has been around for almost as long as I have. He should know about the-----
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When are we going to get the signal?