Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 November 2007

11:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I would prefer the Taoiseach to come to the House one day a week and actually answer the questions he is asked, rather than taking the approach he adopts most of the time. The Taoiseach seems unwilling to outline his position on an increase in sitting weeks, on his power to dissolve the Dáil and call a general election or on the allocation of committee chairs under the d'Hondt system. Therefore, I will ask an additional question about a further aspect of the Green Party's policy on Dáil reform. Will the Government revisit the Standing Order that requires seven Deputies to come together before a technical group can be formed? The Taoiseach will recall that I have raised this matter with him on a number of occasions. Has he given any further thought to the Green Party's policy position, which reflects my continued requests and those of my colleagues? I have to acknowledge that voices of disparate opinion in this Chamber have said they believe that Dáil reform and improved engagement in this House would be aided and abetted if my colleagues and I were given an opportunity to participate in Leaders' Questions, Priority Questions and other areas of parliamentary activity from which we have been excluded since the 30th Dáil was formed.

As the Green Party Deputies have joined with Sinn Féin in the call to reduce the number from seven to five in the past, which would accommodate the four Sinn Féin Deputies and the Independent Deputy now no longer recognised as a Technical Group, has the Green Party pressed the Taoiseach on this issue? Has it raised the issue with him since the establishment of his new three-party coalition with Independent support? What response has the Taoiseach given? Is he still considering and will he accept the urgings of this Deputy that it would indeed add to and enhance the engagement on the floor of the House and be much more reflective of the broad spectrum of opinion in Irish society if debate was not confined to the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of Deputies Kenny and Gilmore, Fine Gael and the Labour Party? There is a third force for change in Irish politics and it is represented by Sinn Féin. The Taoiseach should not be afraid to face us; he has had the experience before.

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