Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I happen to be a member of the Sub-Committee on Dáil Reform. It might not be a D'Hondt system, although Fianna Fáil has three members on it, but I cannot recall any issue being decided by a majority vote. It always worked on the basis of consensus. There are issues in this Dáil with providing a proper time basis for the Opposition to have formal debates in the House, for the Government to have adequate time for formal debates and for the committees, which are very busy. There is another proposition before the reform committee tomorrow to increase the committee time allocation, because the 18 working committees of the House do not have sufficient time to do their work either. I believe there will be a good deal of tweaking.

However, to return to the Business Committee report before the House, if there is a vacant time slot I strongly support the proposal to have a debate on Syria. It is a moral imperative for the House to debate that issue and if Thursday presents such an opportunity, I strongly support the principle of doing that. As a matter of commentary, it is neither a useful allocation of resources nor is it respectful to Members to expect people to make their contribution on the budget at midnight tonight. It is not a sensible proposal to allow the issues that they raise to be heard or for the budget to be given adequate focus.

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