Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

This House has a set of rules for the examination and scrutiny, and acceptance or rejection, of legislation. The rules in question have stood the test of time in this House. They have given us a good body of legislation that serves the people well. These rules are being set aside on a regular basis by Government. The rules by which we operate are agreed by all sides of the House. We have the power to change them, of course, but they are being set aside regularly by the Government, which is abusing its majority in this instance.

The first item states, "It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders...". That means it is being proposed by the Executive that the rules of the House are set aside to allow it make its own rules and impose its will on this legislative assembly. The next part of the statement is to the effect that everything in the Bill, irrespective of whether it is debated, and every proposal from the Minister to amend the Bill, will be accepted by matters being brought to a conclusion through the mechanism of one question from the Chair. Again, the Government, using its majority, will force that through. That is an abuse of the majority the Government holds and it is not a democratic use of that majority. A set of rules exists that is adjusted over a long period of time so that there is fair and proper examination of legislation. This is simply setting that aside and I believe it is an insult, not just to the Opposition, but to the people who elected us.

It is one of eight items of legislation this week that will not be discussed. It simply is legislation by diktat from the Executive, which is supposed to be responsible to and subject to the will of this House. However, this is abusing the majority the Executive commands, to set aside the rules and neither I nor the Labour Party will accept that. We shall call a division on this and other matters.

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