Adams: Labour are being ruled by FG in Finance Bill debate

Gerry Adams has accused Labour TDs of being overruled by their coaltion partners as the Dáil continues to debate the Social Welfare Bill.

Gerry Adams has accused Labour TDs of being overruled by their coalition partners as the Dáil continues to debate the Social Welfare Bill.

The bill gives legal effect to cuts announced in the Budget for the bereavement grant, the Dole for under-26s, maternity benefit and other payments.

Earlier the government won a vote on whether to limit debate to just two days, meaning the bill could be passed by the Dáil as soon as tomorrow evening.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Labour ministers are failing to challenge their Fine Gael colleagues:

"Labour said, 'well, we're going in [to Government] to blunt the worst excesses of that party' - and not only has the Labour party failed miserably to do that in relation to this bill, it hasn't even secured a reasonable time for a Dáil debate."

The debate is ongoing.