Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Before the Ceann Comhairle puts the question on the first proposition, I raise the fact that it contains, in effect, five proposals. I know the Ceann Comhairle will apply the rule that there should be only one contribution from each party in respect of that question. The problem is that because there are five elements to the proposition, it is possible that different members of political parties or individual Members of the House may want to contribute. I do not anticipate any great controversy over the ministerial rota for parliamentary questions but Deputy Burton certainly wishes to raise some issues on the financial resolutions. There is a separate question entirely included in the first proposition, which is the taking of 52 financial resolutions together without debate.

There has been an element of drift in this regard towards a collection of proposals being lumped together to be taken without debate but this is pushing it too far. There are far too many elements in this proposal. I ask the Ceann Comhairle, as Chair, to rule as to whether it is appropriate for all five of these questions to be taken together as one proposal from the Government. Will he use his good offices with the Government to ensure we are not continuously presented with these multiple sets of proposals being put together in one proposition?

See this speech in context