Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I wish to begin by telling a story. Approximately one year ago, as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Education and Science, I called an emergency meeting on the water charges issue. It may have been coincidental but when I called that meeting, there was a response from the Government. My aim in calling the meeting was to try to obtain an agreed cross-party motion from the members of the committee, the purpose of which would be to send a strong message to the Government. It became apparent on the day of the meeting that a motion would be tabled by Fine Gael and Labour. This meant a Government counter-motion would have to be tabled. I informed Deputy Quinn that this would lead to the committee's motion being watered down and that, as a result, it would not have the same impact. Deputy Quinn replied, "That is politics, Paul".

I agree with the Deputy, that is politics. That is why the Labour Party tabled the motion before the House. It is also why the Green Party, Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are tabling an amendment. I praise the Labour Party for tabling the motion because it has provided a good opportunity for debate and exerted pressure on the Government.

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