Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

With regard to extending the Dáil sittings to Fridays, will the Chief Whip assure us this is not a trick to have the Opposition in the House doing its work while half the Government, given its huge majority, is off down the country, and that this will be facilitated by the type of business that will be rostered for Fridays? To make the Dáil at least a vehicle where elected Members can raise issues that are of immediate relevance to constituents and to ordinary people generally, what proposals will the Government bring forward with regard to the hint the Taoiseach gave that he and Ministers will be available to answer questions from any Member of the Opposition, not just the leader of a group, with regard to pressing issues of the day, including issues that might arise overnight or be of controversy or relevance?

To facilitate the Members of the Dáil, many of whom have pressing and busy schedules, will the Chief Whip send a calendar outlining his plans for Dáil sittings and business between now and the autumn so we can plan our work and know exactly where we have to be on particular days for the next several months?

See this speech in context