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

It is not logical to allow someone to table a motion and then prevent them from speaking to the motion. There is no logic to that. If the Government thought the establishment of this inquiry encroached upon the courts, it would not have brought forward this motion. Of course that would have been unacceptable. My humble opinion is that there is no logic here. Perhaps what we were told yesterday was based on a brief communication that had been received by the Whip. It is very unsatisfactory. In light of the manner in which the Dáil is being treated, I ask the Taoiseach to withdraw formally the motion. I am asking for a week to be provided, until next Tuesday, so that the courtesy of proper communication with the House would at least be entered into.

No one had any warning of this. As late as the middle of last week, this matter was tabled for yesterday. When it was pulled yesterday, rumours went around that this had been done because of some issues with the invocation of Standing Orders. There has been absolutely no communication with any Member of the House on this side about why there could be no debate. Now the Government is asking us to accept a farcical situation in which we vote through the terms of reference with no debate, before voting on amendments with no debate either. I think it does a great disservice to the House. It is not the intention of this House to encroach on the courts. I believe democracy and parliamentary democracy demand that this House be in a position to debate these grave issues, which go to the heart of the administration of justice.

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