Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, it is not agreed. The motion before the House is incredible and represents an attempt by the Government, particularly the Labour Party, and Sinn Féin to suppress dissent and punish Members who voted against the cut to the respite care grant in the case of Deputy Keaveney in the Dáil. We are being asked to remove Deputy Keaveney from the Committee of Public Accounts, the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs and the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications because he voted with his conscience consistent with commitments he made before the last general election. This new Parliament in the aftermath of the last general election was meant to usher in a new democracy and a change in how we organise ourselves in the Parliament. The entire Parliament is being asked to punish a Deputy because he voted against the cut in the respite care grant cut. So we must now summarily remove him from three committees. I have no wish to remove Deputy Keaveney from any committee. He is an able member of these committees.

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