Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want specifically to address No. 5con the making of statements on 22 March. Obviously, special speaking rights have been given to various groups, including my own, Independents for Change. However, there is no reference to Independents generally, including colleagues such as Deputy Thomas Pringle and others. In the spirit of Dáil reform which you espoused in your speech earlier, it is very important to amend No. 5cto include special speaking rights for Independents because at that stage we will not have a Technical Group.

The Ceann Comhairle will have a very special role in forming a committee, in which I may be involved. One of the ideas you might pursue is having a permanent standing Estimates committee in Dáil Éireann. I believe the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have made some reference to special budget offices in the Oireachtas. It is critical for us to have a committee which would be a mirror image the Committee of Public Accounts which looks at past spending. However, forward spending should also be looked at.

It is incumbent on everybody in the House to accept the results of the general election and that the people have spoken, especially in their decision on water taxes and their clear wish that Irish Water and water taxes be abolished. It is incumbent on all of us to accept that. However, I agree with one point the Tánaiste made. On 22 March we should receive an update on what has been done to form a government. That is the responsibility of the major parties, whether we are talking about a grand coalition or something like confidence and supply. Some such arrangement should be made. We should know exactly what will happen in this regard on 22 March.

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