The Government was sharply criticised by the Opposition parties for guillotining legislation.
Amid heated exchanges, the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said: "This is the beginning of the second formal week of the Dáil's resumption, if one discounts the phoney week when the Government whip had the Opposition in here talking to itself. Although it is only the beginning of the second week, the guillotine is already being used."
He asked when the House was going to deal seriously with the question of Dáil reform.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the Government tried its best to avoid guillotining legislation, but at times bills became urgent for different reasons.
"At present, there are a few bills which have deadlines for being moved forward procedurally."
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, also said he was opposed to the Taoiseach bringing in guillotining bills.
Mr Ahern said that the European Parliament Elections (Amendment), which was debated late last night, arose from the report of the independent Laffan commission.
"Everybody knows the result of the commission report. As far as I can recall, we have never amended a commission report. We can discuss it if we want, but it will not change it."
Earlier, Mr Kenny and Fine Gael deputies objected when a vote was taken on the expulsion of the Fine Gael spokesman on justice, Mr John Deasy, who was ordered from the chamber on last Thursday during Justice Question Time.
In all, two votes were called, but the Government had a comfortable majority in each case. Mr Deasy then left the chamber.
