Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is dancing on the head of a pin when she says it is not the fault of the regulations but of crafty companies which are availing of the legislation in place. She should not waste our time with that nonsense. There are two options.

Either the Minister acts to bring forward a new regulation which he is perfectly capable of doing - it is our view in Sinn Féin that he should do so today - or, failing this, we avail of Seanad Standing Orders which give the Seanad the power to annul a statutory instrument within 21 sitting days of its signing by the Minister. As the Seanad has sat in a period of ten days since, Sinn Féin Senators have today submitted a motion to the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad to annul the statutory instrument and regulation. Either the Minister acts or next week Sinn Féin Senators will bring forward the motion to ensure the regulation is annulled. If it comes to this, I hope Fianna Fáil, Government Senators and others will support the motion. Sitting on our hands is not an option. The Minister talking tough is not an option. Either the Government acts or we will do so next week. Under no circumstances, come 1 July, will ordinary people be fleeced in the way the companies intend.

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