Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Last Thursday, when the Taoiseach was not here, we had a proposition to apply a guillotine to the Broadcasting Bill and the Companies (Amendment) Bill. Representatives of the three Opposition parties appealed to the Tánaiste and the Chief Whip not to apply a guillotine because we did not have confidence that the Government had accurately measured the time required. Nevertheless, despite the Tánaiste chiding Opposition voices and the Government proceeding absolutely intent on its own purpose irrespective of what other opinion might be offered, the business of the House collapsed for more than three hours. How can we have confidence in a Government that cannot even measure the length of time required to address the passage of legislation let alone to govern?

See this speech in context