Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

This is the use of the guillotine again today. Last evening, Sinn Féin had over a dozen amendments on the judges' pay issue and not one of them was taken. The Taoiseach talks about reforming the Dáil, openness and the role the Opposition can play. We went and did the work. Our Teachtaí Dála brought forward thoughtful amendments and, while the Taoiseach might not have agreed with them, they were not even taken. We asked yesterday that time be given for that debate. The same thing is being done today. This is rushed legislation, which history shows is often bad legislation.

The Water Services (Amendment) Bill is controversial. People throughout rural Ireland are concerned that charges will be slapped on them. Many Deputies have thoughtfully put together amendments to this legislation but the Government is not going to allow that, which is ridiculous. I ask the Taoiseach to reconsider the guillotine. It may have worked last night in getting the Government's will imposed upon the Dáil but it did not allow our party and other parties to put forward amendments. That affects citizens' rights. The same thing will happen this evening if the Government proceeds with this guillotine.

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