I, as an Independent, look on this motion very differently from Dr. Browne. I listened to Deputy Dunne who does not seem to understand what Deputies Browne and McQuillan are driving at. Otherwise, I feel sure he would not support them. If the two Deputies were to get equal footing with the big Parties and if the seven Independent Deputies were to be treated, not as seven Parties but as one, then Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan could speak every three months, whereas Deputy Dunne would speak only every two years. It amounts to that, so he would not agree at all.
Here is the way it would work out. Fianna Fáil usually do not put down motions or, at least, the Party in power usually do not. Fine Gael would put down a motion; the Labour Party would table a motion; and the two Deputies behind me would table a motion. I would table a motion, but I could not table another motion for three years because the turn of the other six Independents would have come then, but all the time the two Deputies behind me could continue to table motions. They could speak seven times more than the other Independents. That would not suit Deputy Dunne. We would oppose that.
Let us get it straight. We did not initiate this proposal. In fact, I am a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and, in that committee, I opposed it because I was asked to oppose it. I opposed it only because I was asked to oppose it. Personally, I agree with the proposal before the House. I support it because I think it is fair. I do not think the Deputies who are complaining have anything to complain about. I do not think they will lose a lot of time. Only two or three Independents put down motions anyway. There are four motions in the name of Deputy Dunne on the Order Paper and there is one motion in my name. That is all, apart from the motions in the names of Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan. I am not fond of putting down motions. I think many of them are nonsensical and only serve as a sort of publicity gimmick and when they appear on the Order Paper, they are forgotten about.
I have a motion on the Order Paper —I think it is important—dealing with people who, I believe, should automatically get a proportionate increase when everyone else gets an increase in income. That is important. Several members of the Labour Party have supported the principle underlying that motion. There are 11 motions on the Order Paper in front of me in the names of Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan. I have been kept waiting a year and it looks as if I shall have to wait another year or 18 months, all because two people are hogging the agenda.
Although I am making that statement, I did not initiate this proposal, nor did any other Independent. If the two Deputies were to have their own way and be treated as a Party, each of us Independents could talk only about once every two years. We will not agree with that. As the proposal stands now, as I see it, the two Deputies will be able to speak every couple of months and the position will be that there will be a Fine Gael motion, a Labour Party motion, a motion probably put down by the two Deputies behind me, and then perhaps Deputy Dunne will put down a motion, and then the same thing again. So, as I see it, every fifth motion will be put down by Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan. As double time is being granted now, our turns will come up every two months while the House is sitting and we are in a position to discuss Private Members' Business.
I think this proposal is fair to the other Independents. I am not supporting it because I happen to vote for the Government. That has nothing to do with it. I am, I hope, orderly-minded, although some persons seem to think I am not. There was a situation on Dublin City Council two years ago —long before there was any question of voting for the Government—in which a member put down 15 motions. The rest of us realised it would be six months or a year before we could talk. We immediately demanded an amendment of the Standing Orders and we have just completed it. We have actually decided on something like what the House is now deciding on, because we believe it is fair.
The proposal of Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan is dangerous to the rest of the Independents and I, as one, would not agree, nor would the others. If Deputy Dunne were here, he would know what I am driving at because if these two Deputies got away with it, Deputy Dunne could speak only once every 12 months or two years. He would not like that. For that reason, I think this proposal is fair. I again want to emphasise the fact that I at no time objected to the time given to Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan. Even if it was wasted time, I have never commented in any way. I am now speaking my mind on this motion. I support it. I would not support Deputy Dr. Browne and Deputy McQuillan being treated as a Party unless each individual member of the Independents got the same rights.