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

The least the House should expect is an orderly flow of legislation throughout the year. We now have a ridiculous scenario. We met for one and a half days after the May bank holiday weekend and nothing seemed to happen during the month of May in terms of debating legislation. We took a full week off after the June bank holiday. Now everything is being crammed in during the last few weeks of the term. That means that legislation will not be properly considered. Members will be debating important legislation late at night. This flies in the face of what the programme for Government stated would happen in dealing with legislation. That is the basis on which we oppose the proposal that the Dáil sit later than 9 p.m. It is not good enough to discuss an important Bill at that late hour because it does not treat the House with the respect it deserves.

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