Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On the last occasion this proposition was before the House, I asked that we utilise the motion to have a proper review and discussion of the workings of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. I asked this not only on behalf of my party colleagues, but I hope I was reflecting the views of my colleagues in the Green Party and the members of the Technical Group. There is no direct representation of the Technical Group on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. This is a significant deficiency given that, collectively, we have a greater number of Members than one of the main Opposition parties. We have no direct voice on this commission. Proceeding once again without debate with a motion on the statement of expenditure for the forthcoming year is deficient. I therefore again ask that the proposal I put 12 months ago be revisited, reconsidered and, hopefully, acceded to.

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