Ministers summoned for crunch social welfare vote

Government ministers on national and European engagements have been summoned to the Dáil for a crucial vote, it emerged tonight.

TDs are expected to be present for the vote on the Social Welfare Bill (2009) at around midnight with the debate expected to end before then.

The draft legislation, which may test the Government’s shaky majority, includes the emergency Budget’s controversial plan to axe the Christmas bonus.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe had been due to attend a meeting of EU counterparts in Belgium but was summoned to Leinster House.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern was also forced to pull out of an address to the Garda Representative Association conference in Killarney.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who rarely attends the Dáil since stepping down, will also be in the chamber to cast his vote for the Government.

The Coalition only survived a vote by three last week after a number of TDs were unavoidably absent, including Michael Lowry who was at the Moriarty Tribunal at Dublin Castle.

Government Chief Whip Pat Carey will be hoping tonight’s vote will not be influenced by the fall-out from the sacking of seven junior ministers by the Taoiseach last week.

The Social Welfare Bill also includes a provision to halve dole payments to people under 20 to encourage them to enrol in training schemes.

Opposition parties earlier rejected the Government’s move to ’guillotine’ or end the debate before midnight tonight.

“What is the urgency of the Government in ramming this through the House?” asked Labour TD Roisin Shortall in the Dáil.

“We will regret this decision to rush through complex legislation.”

Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín O Caoláin called for a longer debate and added: “This is not reasonable by any yardstick of measurement. The guillotine is absolutely unacceptable.”