Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is greatly to be regretted that the issue was brought to the House in this way. I have said to the Deputy that I believe that the appropriate forum for a discussion to take place is the meeting tomorrow of the commission that is charged with responsibility for the running of the Houses and the privileges and various arrangements of the Members in this House. The Ceann Comhairle has indicated that he intends to put his proposals to the commission on that basis. That is the appropriate forum and we should await the outcome of that process.

It is important that the confidence of the House in the Ceann Comhairle can be confirmed on the basis of a discussion and decisions that should be taken at that commission meeting. I assure Deputy Gilmore that it is my view and that of the Government that we ensure full transparency in respect of all that we do here. There is nothing for us to hide and nothing that we should hide. We need public confidence in our democratic institutions. I am of the view that the means by which that can be done is always in our interests. It is on that basis that I have asked that that meeting take place at the commission tomorrow.

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