Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 3

Standing Order 106: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. S. Brennan)

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and the Resolution of the Dáil of 30 September, 1977, with effect from 8 February, 2000, and until further notice in the 28th Dáil, the following shall apply in substitution for paragraph (5) of Standing Order 106:

(5) (i) Each group shall have the right to nominate a private member of the group either to move a motion standing in his or her name or to proceed with a Stage of a Bill in the Dáil.

(ii) The frequency with which each group may exercise this right shall be determined on the basis of the number of members in the groups.

(iii) The sequence in which the groups may exercise this right shall be as follows:

First occasion on which private members'business is to be taken	Fine Gael
Next available occasion	Fine Gael
Next available occasion	Fine Gael
Next available occasion	The Labour Party
Next available occasion	sequence torecommence.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is the motion agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

If you are referring to the motion re Standing Order 106, I strongly disagree with the proposition before the House. Standing Order 106 has been used to discriminate against the smaller parties in this House, namely, Sinn Féin, the Green Party and the Socialist Party time and time again. We are seeing a situation once more where the accommodation is only for the two major parties, Fine Gael and Labour in opposition. This is simply unacceptable. The word "muzzle" was used earlier. The collective muzzling of the representation of the smaller opinions in this House has happened time and again during the past two and half years of this term of the 28th Dáil. The reality is that we have been excluded from access to Private Members' time and the opportunity of participation in statements before the House and, most recently, in relation to Helsinki.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is the Deputy opposing the motion?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Yes.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The motion is being taken without debate. The question is: "That the motion be agreed to".

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Vótáil.

An Ceann Comhairle

Will the Deputies who are claiming a division please rise?

Deputies Gormley, Gregory, Joe Higgins, Ó Caoláin and Sargent rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

As fewer than ten Members have risen I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 68, the names of the Deputies dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.

Question declared carried.

Mr. Quinn

On a point of order, I want to correct the record. In the debate on the Order of Business I stated that the chairman of the Moriarty tribunal was the person whose quotation I read into the record of the House. I was wrong in so doing. It should have been attributed to Mr. John Coughlan SC, counsel for the tribunal.