Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because I have already expressed my reservation on the wording of motion 5c. Agriculture is a very important issue in my constituency, in both Roscommon and Galway, and the motion as currently worded is unfair as five out of the 11 representatives from both Roscommon and Galway are excluded from the debate. I accept what the Taoiseach said and I look forward to the amendment in that regard.

The biggest single constitutional role we have as Members of this House is to make sure that the Government is accountable to the people. If we do not amend motion 5c to include written parliamentary questions it will mean that the Government and the public service have got away scot free for nearly two and a half months and so I ask that the motion be amended to facilitate the submission of written questions for reply on 22 March.

The third point is a procedural one to which either the Chief Whip or the Taoiseach can respond. My understanding is that Labour Party Members are still part of the Government. If that is the case, why is provision made in the motion before us for the Labour Party to speak? Are there now two halves of the Labour Party, one that is part of the Government and one that is on the Opposition benches? I would welcome clarification as to why provision is made for the Labour Party in the motion.

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