What transpired at the meeting of the Dáil reform committee last evening confirms that the Tánaiste's Government is hell-bent on plunging the Dáil into chaos. The Government's proposal seeks to turn the democratic rules and functioning of the Parliament inside out and upside down. It is seriously pushing to allow Michael Lowry and his group of TDs to be part of Leaders' Questions. It is also trying to extend this right to backbench TDs from its own parties, who already have multiple opportunities to speak in the Dáil. Bizarrely, the Government then wants to cut Taoiseach's questions, the current opportunity for all TDs, including backbench Government TDs, to put questions. This makes it crystal clear that this is all about Michael Lowry.
Leaders' Questions is the main facility for the Opposition to hold the Government to account. It is critical to the democratic integrity of the Dáil that this be upheld. Michael Lowry and his group are not Opposition TDs. They are not unaligned and they are not others; they are Government TDs – plain and simple. They designated themselves as such when they negotiated, drafted and agreed the programme for Government and then publicly announced they would support the Government in good days and bad. To allow them to be part of Leaders' Questions makes a mockery of the Dáil. The Government is so determined to protect its grubby deal with Michael Lowry that it would shred the core democratic functions of this Parliament.
Michael Lowry is a politician who still has serious questions to answer regarding his evidence to the Moriarty tribunal. Indeed, questions were raised on the floor of the Dáil four weeks ago and we have not heard a peep from Deputy Lowry since – no statement, no answers.
Has the Tánaiste asked Michael Lowry whether he had 57 meetings regarding the Doncaster deal, including here in Leinster House, because he told the tribunal he had no involvement in that deal? Has he asked Michael Lowry whether, in August 2002, he went to a rural farmhouse to burn original documents relating to deals at the heart of the Moriarty investigations? Has he asked Michael Lowry how his accountant made two separate payments, which originated in Gibraltar, to the person arranging the Doncaster deal, because these payments were never disclosed to the tribunal?
The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, have made Michael Lowry the kingmaker in their Government and now provide him with cover. It seems they will stop at nothing to protect Deputy Lowry and their grubby deal. They intend to throw the Oireachtas into chaos. They are manipulating Standing Orders and blocking the formation of committees. While they focus on protecting their deal, there are big issues affecting Ireland and people's lives. We face potential trade barriers that could have huge consequences. Rents are through the roof. The prices of fuel and groceries are growing up again. Hundreds of people are lying on hospital trolleys every single day. Parents of children with special needs still have to fight and fight for services.
The Tánaiste and Taoiseach gave their word in this Chamber that a solution agreeable to both the Government and Opposition would be found. Last night, they broke their word and they have moved forward with yet another stroke. This is not going to fly. The combined Opposition will fight this every step of the way. This needs to be resolved in a way that upholds the democratic integrity of the Dáil, defends the rights of the real Opposition to hold the Government to account and, more important, allows us to get on with the work of the Dáil. The leaders of the combined Opposition have written to the Tánaiste seeking an urgent meeting with him and the Taoiseach to work out a solution. Will he agree now to that meeting?
