Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is treating the House in a similar fashion to the way he would have done in the previous Dáil when his Government had a thumping majority in the House. He is not treating the House the way it should be treated, given that his Government is in a minority position and the fact that to satisfy even the basic norms of accountability the Tánaiste should, at the very least, come before the House, give an account of the current situation that pertains in the Garda, and answer questions from Members on that. If Members want to find space today as to when that could be done, I suggest there is an issue on the Order Paper that perhaps could wait for a week, namely, the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016. I suggest that is not as pressing an issue as the scandal that has taken place in the ranks of the Garda and the silence we have from the Tánaiste. She should be here today with a statement to answer questions.

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