Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

While we accept it is the Government's prerogative to propose the business of the House and the legislative programme, the 209 Bills passed by the last Dáil gave rise to a record number of guillotines being applied to standard, and not emergency or special, legislation. Half of the number of guillotines used since the foundation of the State were used in the last seven years. Given that there are flaws in the system and that people such as the Opposition Whips are left out of it, will the Minister consider including them in the planning of the legislative programme for the year, rather than for a week? It would give an opportunity to the Opposition spokespersons to prepare and would perhaps result in better informed debate in the Chamber. That is not to suggest that the debate is not well informed but there would be improved debate arising from better planning.

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