Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to propose an amendment to No. 4, to provide that the motion be decided on after a debate not exceeding 30 minutes. The election of a Leas-Cheann Comhairle is a matter of considerable public importance. There should be a debate, not exceeding 30 minutes, on the manner in which the Government has gone about its business in this instance. Electoral mandates should be respected. Given that one third of the Members of this House are Fine Gael Deputies, we should be able to discuss and debate how this process has gone ahead. Since the Government was appointed some weeks ago, the Taoiseach has been prepared to reward parties with Cabinet seats in return for their support for him. Secret deals have been agreed with a number of Independent Members, involving unknown quantities of public moneys. It seems that the details of these political arrangements will not be published, which is confusing for the electorate and especially for taxpayers who are footing the bill without being told how their money is spent. The Taoiseach has publicly anointed his own successor. He has publicly praised and wooed a Deputy who was being pursued by a State agency for a considerable amount of money. He has promised that Deputy a Ministry.

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