Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I support my colleague on this matter. This issue has been raised on the Order of Business on several occasions over the past few years. It is getting worse. The right of a Member to get a reply to a parliamentary question — the traditional way for the Opposition to get information — is now being excluded from the Order Paper. We are now being told by the Ceann Comhairle to raise it on the Adjournment. No one comes in to answer the Adjournment debates anymore. No one cares any more. The public expects the Ceann Comhairle to preside over a House that is accountable. We cannot be accountable if we are refused information.

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