Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

What is proposed by Deputy Shatter was what I suggested when I spoke previously. The difficulty is that the language used by the Office of the Ceann Comhairle in saying the principle of the Bill is being offended or that we are in conflict with the principle of the Bill is using a word which does not appear anywhere in the Bill as presented to us. I have no problem with raising the matter in the Committee on Procedure and Privileges if that is the appropriate way to proceed. Otherwise, I suggest the Office of the Ceann Comhairle needs to engage with the Bills Office or the offices of the various Ministers to ensure the same language is used. We need absolute clarity that in future we will not have amendments ruled out of order on the basis of this precedent. Otherwise, Opposition spokespersons will be strictly curtailed in how they can propose amendments. We will also have no sense of clarity on whether or not we are offending the principle of the Bill, because we will not know its principle. We need that clarity. If it can be done through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, that is fine, but it needs to be done one way or another.

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