The Government is to proceed today with the second reading of a Bill providing for pensions for the three men who resigned in the Sheedy case, despite Opposition protests that it should be deferred.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, and Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Brendan Howlin, ail yesterday (TUES) yesterday said that the reading of the Bill should not go ahead until a report on the Sheedy affair from the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights becomes available.
The committee is expected to meet tomorrow to approve the report, draft copies of which were circulated to members yesterday. It will then be laid before the Dail. However, a Government spokesman last night insisted that the second stage reading would go ahead today.
Fine Gael has tabled a "reasoned amendment" to the Bill, proposing that it should not be processed further unless the two judges who resigned over the Sheedy case agree to make themselves available to "whatever course of inquiry" is recommended by the Dail. The Government will oppose the amendment.