Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Indeed. At the very minimum, we should have a vote on the legislation. As part of the debate, we should be allowed put forward motions in order that there be a vote as to whether we renew this extremely draconian legislation which impacts on hundreds of thousands of workers in this country. I would also like to point out that, having raised the matter over a number of weeks at the Business Committee, we finally secured broad agreement last week that this debate would take place on Thursday morning. It was then relegated to the graveyard slot on Thursday. Frankly, I think that is deliberate. It is because the Government does not want this issue discussed and it does not want it voted upon. It wants to have a minimum of discussion. The debate should happen on Thursday morning and there should be provision for Deputies, groups and parties to put forward motions so that we can vote on whether to renew this draconian legislation. Legislation on offences against the State has to be renewed every year. We have to vote on it because we understand how serious an infringement it is on people's rights.

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