Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Government is asking us to approve No. 10 without debate. This represents a significant change in Standing Orders and the conduct of business on the floor of the House. Two separate sets of motions were presented in the days leading into this week's sittings, but the Taoiseach and Chief Whip have taken only one of them. No. 16 on today's Order Paper which directly impinges on the proposal in No. 10 has not been taken. I urge the Taoiseach to take both motions together as they are related and there should be an opportunity to properly discuss the import and content of both which relate specifically to Leaders' questions and access to priority questions and other such matters. It is grossly unfair that the Government proposes to take one of these without debate and to exclude the other in its entirety. Both motions should be taken together and there should be a full debate thereon in the Chamber. I appeal to others in the Government configuration, particularly the Green Party which in the past protested on these benches at the failure of the Government to provide for the right of smaller parties to have their voices heard and to have access to participation in all relevant opportunities and debates in this Chamber, which this proposition will not facilitate. Instead, it only compounds an already impossible situation for my colleagues and me.

I appeal to the Green Party Deputies and those who were formerly members of the Technical Group in the 29th Dáil to use their persuasive powers in government to ensure there is a full and inclusive debate on these matters and that they are properly resolved to reflect the rights of five Deputies to be recognised on the floor of the House as a technical group. This is precisely the wording that was previously argued by the Green Party in the last Dáil. I ask the Taoiseach in the second week of the 30th Dáil to accede to this request, allow the opportunity for Members to discuss this and related matters properly and let the decision then be taken by a free vote, not with a Whip being applied by the Fianna Fáil Party.

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