Dáil debates

Wednesday, 3 July 2013

Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage

 

12:50 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am not familiar with the Bundestag. I do not know how it works. However, this is an extraordinary proposition. Whatever about majoritarianism, a dictatorship of the minority would be an interesting concept to debate. There are issues in respect of which a minority should be able to trigger actions and I am not ruling that out in all instances.

In amendments Nos. 6 and 7, Deputy Donnelly is proposing that a vote of one quarter of the Members of the House would be sufficient to pass a resolution in respect of an inquiry. As he rightly stated and as I mentioned on Committee Stage, Article 15.11.1° of the Constitution requires: "All questions in each House shall, save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, [it is not a rule of the House-----

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