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

No. We received the latest iteration of the Government's proposals for the week at approximately 3.15 p.m. I believe in parliamentary democracy and that all Members should do everything possible to uphold the concept of parliamentary democracy and proper, ordered, regulated debate in Parliament.

5 o’clock

I decry what happened last Thursday, when a vote of the Parliament was defied. It is the first time I have ever witnessed that since I came to the House in 1989. It strikes a dagger into the heart of what parliamentary democracy is all about and sets a precedent we should not want repeated. Equally, the Government should respect the Parliament. This proposal and the remaining proposals before us do not respect the House and the concept of orderly, regulated debate. In essence, because of the debate on water, Private Members' business has been put back to Thursday, there is no Order of Business on Wednesday or Thursday and there is no Topical Issue debate or Question Time on Thursday. It was also proposed that Leaders' Questions not take place on Thursday, until our Whip contacted the Government Whip this morning.

See this speech in context