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

Every Deputy was told: "You take it as a fait accompliin its entirety, essentially, and there is no change. Take it this way and no other way". I do not agree with that approach. We will continue to endeavour in respect of this matter and we are still open to engaging on it. However, the Dáil has to have an input as well. I want to make our position clear. We are not going to unilaterally say to the rest of the Dáil that this Bill should not be debated today. In my view, it can be debated today. There is a need for some space, to be frank, to see if there can be a basis to have the Bill debated today.

I was somewhat surprised that the Friday sitting was taken out of the equation by the Business Committee yesterday, for different reasons. I would have thought we should have kept the Friday sitting as an option, given the fact there could be difficulties with resolving this Bill. There were other reasons why people felt there was no need for a Friday sitting, and it is not the Government's fault on that one - I will be straight up on that. Nonetheless, caution and a bit of experience would indicate that we would give ourselves extra time to try to have this issue resolved.

There will not be agreement across the House on all of the issues, which I acknowledge. However, the issue of rent certainty has been put on the table arising from the Cabinet decision. The attitude seems to be, "You either take it the way we have prescribed it or you do not take it at all". That is not a basis for getting matters resolved. I want to make it clear we are open to engagement but we have to respect the House and we have to respect the rights of other Members to have an input into the legislation as well. What I propose, if it is agreeable, is that the sitting be suspended for a short period to see if we can get an agreed basis on which the House can do its business today and, if necessary, tomorrow.

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