Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On a point of order, we are the Dáil. We have the right now to make a decision about when we come back, what we discuss and in what way we discuss it. That is what we currently are discussing and I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle must knit together a series of different proposals etc. to come up with something. However, I do not accept the idea that we cannot pass motions of this Dáil until we have a Government. It is not legally or constitutionally true but it also is not politically true in the sense that Members here have positions.

There is all this talk of new politics and having motions where people take positions on policy as opposed to on whether they are in or out of government is part of that talk. The proposal to have thematic debates, as referred to by Deputy Martin, is a good one. These would include thematic debates on housing, health and water. However, it should not be limited to statements. It has to include the right of parties to have their motions debated and, ultimately, voted on. Therefore, we should discuss the Sinn Féin motion on water charges. We should have a right to put forward a motion on water charges which would place an emphasis on the boycott. Fianna Fáil should have a right to put forward a motion on water charges which says whatever Fianna Fáil is going to say on them and Fine Gael and the Labour Party can defend their positions. We can have a thematic debate on the right of parties to put forward motions and the Dáil can then choose to pass those motions or not to do so. I do not see why we cannot agree to do that on 22, 23 and 24 March.

See this speech in context