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

It was unclear today, to be honest, as to who could table motions for today. In fact, Fianna Fáil had advice 48 hours ago that we could not table motions. We did table a motion subsequently on housing. If it was to be known that the next session of the Dáil could entail motions from political parties - I respectfully suggest that Independent groups and political parties could likewise table motions - it would be far more sensible to have a thematic approach to it in respect of the key issues. This is because the only way in which one can deal with water charges is via legislation. Rather than just a substantive motion in the House, one would need legislation in respect of the deletion or amendment of the Act or whatever.

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