A HEATED procedural row in the Dáil delayed for almost an hour yesterday the introduction of the Social Welfare Bill. The debate was then interrupted repeatedly through the late-night debate as the Labour Party pledged to obstruct the Bill’s passage through the Dáil.

Party whip Emmet Stagg described the Bill as “one of the most nasty and vindictive pieces of legislation ever to have come before the House”. He demanded a further vote on the taking of the legislation which implements the dramatic cuts announced yesterday in the Budget.

He called a number of quorums during the debate, which continued until 11pm. A quorum stops business until 20 deputies are present in the House.

And when the initial argument ended over whether the Bill could be introduced without a further vote, Labour deputies objected to Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin continuing her speech on the grounds she had no more time left.

Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk insisted the Minister had been interrupted and should be allowed to continue, and after repeated points of order from the Labour Party, the Minister was given a further four minutes.

Earlier in the day Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted that Government, “and those who support it, are four-square behind the need to make the corrections we are making in the medium-term and the long-term interests of this country and in the interests of those recipients who depend on us to provide them with decent support in the social welfare code’’.

The Opposition claimed the Bill was being rushed through the Dáil before the weekend because TDs would not hold their nerve to support the measure following weekend contact with constituents.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the arrangements were designed to ensure that none of the Government TDs “wobbled” when they met constituents affected by the Bill, which implements cuts of €762 million.

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said passing the Bill so quickly was to ensure that “backbenchers in particular do not find themselves under pressure over the weekend, take a fit of the jitters and become unable to sustain their support for the Bill’’.

Opening the debate, Ms Hanafin said if the Government didn’t take steps now to reduce public expenditure, “we risk making the economic situation far worse for everyone”.

The Bill will be voted on this evening at 6.30pm.