Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin agrees that adequate time should be given to the Smithwick inquiry but this is not why I object to the time allocated here. The problem I have is that I have been trying to get a debate on the Government's austerity plan. I was referred to the Whips and our Whip raised this with the Chief Whip. We have not been given time. This is impossible; at a time when people are convulsed with all of the news coming out every day and there are discussions everywhere, we cannot have discussion in the Dáil on these issues. I ask the Taoiseach to set aside time to allow for such a debate and to do it today. We can have adequate time on the Smithwick inquiry but this is absolutely ridiculous. We are told about reform of the Dáil and the Government's commitments on all of these issues but it is reduced to Leaders' Questions, questions to the Taoiseach and a soundbite as opposed to proper scrutiny of governmental and ministerial statements.

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