Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Labour Party will not agree to this proposal until we hear from the Taoiseach in respect of two matters, namely, what arrangements are being made today for the taking of a statement from the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Sargent, and will the House have an opportunity to question the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Ahern, about matters which are the subject of a report in the Evening Herald earlier today?

Prior to Leaders' Questions, the Taoiseach informed the House that the President had accepted the resignation of Deputy Willie O'Dea as a member of Government and that he had reassigned the Department of Defence to himself, as he is entitled to do under the legislation. He did not however inform us what arrangements, if any, are being made to bring before the House a motion for the appointment of a new member of Government, which motion would requires the approval of the House. Perhaps the Taoiseach will inform the House when he intends to bring to the House a motion regarding the appointment of a new member of Government or if indeed it is his intention to do that at all. I would like to hear a response from the Taoiseach on those two matters before agreeing to the proposal on the Order of Business.

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