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

No, it is not agreed. Fianna Fáil is opposing No. 24a in the first instance which relates to changes to Standing Orders, the first of which deals with priority and ordinary oral questions from spokespersons which I believe presents difficulties for Independent Members and the Technical Group, in particular. Second, I refer to the proposal regarding identical or substantially similar Bills which provides that Private Members will be prevented from initiating Bills that are identical or substantially similar to Bills already published or which have reached the Ceann Comhairle's office first. In particular, I am opposing the proposed change concerning Bills that are substantially similar, whereby Membes will be prevented from initiating legislation. Members' experience has been that in successive Standing Orders the outcome in practice has been the concentration of even more power in the Government's hands. I refer to the dictating of what happens in Parliament, again strengthening the Government's hand and its capacity to dictate what happens in Parliament and, in essence, to suppress proper power of initiative and debate in Parliament. That is my genuine view. I remind the Taoiseach that it was only before Christmas when the entire Opposition was obliged to walk out because of the suppression of the debate on Irish Water within four hours.

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