Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Mar 2011

Vol. 728 No. 1

Allocation of Time: Motion

The Taoiseach

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Dáil, shall, if necessary, sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of No. 5(a), motion re Standing Order 103 Select Committee and the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith; proceedings on No. 5, nomination of members of the Government, shall be brought to a conclusion after two hours and five minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the speech of the Taoiseach and the leaders of the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the speech of each other Member, who shall be called upon in the following sequence, shall not exceed ten minutes in each case: Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, and Members may share time; No. 5(a), motion re Standing Order 103 Select Committee, shall be taken on the conclusion of No. 5 and shall be decided without debate; all divisions demanded in the House today shall be taken manually; until the Dáil shall otherwise order, the order in which questions to members of the Government, other than the Taoiseach, shall be asked in accordance with Standing Order 37(2) shall be that in which members of the Government will be listed in a resolution approving their nomination by the Taoiseach for appointment by the President; and the Dáil on its rising tonight shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 March 2011.

The following arrangements shall apply in respect of the sitting of the Dáil on Tuesday,15 March: oral and written questions shall not be taken; matters may not be raised under the provisions of Standing Orders 21(3) and 32; Private Members' business shall not be taken; and all divisions demanded in the House shall be taken manually.

Deputy Gerry Adams

I take it from what the Taoiseach said that oral questions will not be taken on Tuesday next. If this is the case, why not?

The Taoiseach

Normally, on occasions like this the Dáil breaks for approximately two weeks. In this case, I see no reason the Dáil should not be back here on Tuesday next but there is a practical problem regarding oral questions. Obviously this constitutes a major break with tradition and consequently the Government does not propose to take oral questions on Tuesday next.

Deputy Gerry Adams

With respect, this is not a big break from tradition. Although citizens wish to see the reformation of this institution, the Taoiseach proposes not to allow oral questions in its first full sitting.

The Taoiseach

Not so, Deputy Adams. Were the Deputy to look back at the record of the last 50 years, it would show that on each occasion when a new Government has been appointed, the break was for at least two weeks. In this case, we will return on the first available opportunity, that is, next Tuesday, to deal with certain matters and to make changes to enable Deputies on all sides to get on with their business.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

What matters?

Deputy Micheál Martin

What is important is that people are interested in meaningful reform. If Members are talking about changing the way they do things, there must be substance but it seems that we are getting optics and gesture politics. In other words, the fear on the Government side is that it should come back, lest something is said about it otherwise. Members need to know that something of substance will be on the agenda next Tuesday and that this is not simply about image and playing gesture and optic politics. I suspect this to be the case and I seek the agenda for next Tuesday. Will legislation appear before the House next Tuesday or is there a specific topic to be discussed? I am for meaningful political reform and changing how Members actually do things. I made the point during the campaign and in previous weeks that there is no point in having additional sittings if Members continue to do the same Punch and Judy show. Some substance is required in this regard.

Deputy Jerry Buttimer

That is what the Deputy is doing now.

Deputy Liam Twomey

The Deputy is well practised.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Martin for his earlier comments. The first thing to happen next Tuesday will be Leaders' Questions, at which the Deputy can ask a question more meaningful than the one he has just asked.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Deputy Micheál Martin

A Cheann Comhairle, I simply ask what is the agenda for next Tuesday. While the Taoiseach has stated that oral questions would not be taken, he now has stated there will be oral questions.

The Taoiseach

No, Leaders' Questions.

(Interruptions).

Deputy Micheál Martin

At the outset, the Taoiseach stated no questions would be taken. I genuinely seek to ascertain who will be present next Tuesday and what will be the agenda. That is a reasonable thing to ask.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte

The state of the country is at stake.

Deputy Micheál Martin

As I noted earlier, despite our efforts we have had no engagement with Whips or anything like that.

Deputy Alan Shatter

It is a great pity the Deputy did not have an interest in reform for 14 years.

Deputy Micheál Martin

It is reasonable to ask this.

The Taoiseach

It is entirely reasonable and the reason the Deputy has not had any engagement with Whips is that until we do our business this evening, a Whip has not yet been appointed.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Hear, hear.

Deputy Micheál Martin

We all could meet. That is not a——

The Taoiseach

The Deputy will be given a formal agenda. I can tell him that unlike some occasions in the past, Leaders' Questions will be taken next Tuesday, when Deputy Martin can ask anything that comes into his head.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, I cannot allow debate on this. This is a technical motion.

The Taoiseach

Allow me to say that I am not interested either in the Punch and Judy show, which is irrelevant. I am talking about really effective change and Deputy Martin will find that he will have an opportunity to contribute to that and to make this House more meaningful for everyone.

Deputy Gerry Adams

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, Deputy I already have allowed you in. This is a technical motion and is not about what business will be taken next week. It is a technical motion to allow the sitting next Tuesday. On that day, Members may raise matters in respect of these items.

Deputy Gerry Adams

This is a technical point.

An Ceann Comhairle

In between——

Deputy Sean Fleming

No Order of Business is proposed.

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, would the Deputy mind sitting down? In between, it is a matter between the Whips to decide on what business is or is not taken. We cannot discuss next Tuesday's business on a technical motion, the purpose of which is purely to put in train the procedures for the sitting next Tuesday.

Deputy Micheál Martin

That would be fine, except Members have been asked to accept uncertainty in this motion.

An Ceann Comhairle

I have tried to be fair and to allow Members a chance to make a comment. However, we cannot have a long debate.

A Deputy

They have five years to learn the rules.

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy Higgins, on a technical point.

Deputy Joe Higgins

I will make a brief comment on the Standing Order. Will the Taoiseach be present to answer questions next Tuesday? Will he tell Members what will be the business of the Dáil? It is not good enough to leave it until next Tuesday. The Taoiseach is making a big fist of meeting next week. It must be meaningful and Members must know what is the agenda in order that they can prepare for it. This is reasonable.

The Taoiseach

I thank Deputy Higgins for that concise remark. The answer to the first question is "Yes", as I will be here. The answer to the second question is that the Whips will meet tomorrow to define that agenda. We are waiting to go through these technicalities to appoint formally a Whip and a government with the President's seals of office. Deputy Higgins will be notified of the agenda as soon as that has been fixed tomorrow.

Question put and agreed to.