Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

When all of us agreed to the establishment of the Business Committee, it was to bring a consensus approach to the ordering of business in this House. We understood that there would be a consensual approach but what was announced by the Taoiseach was a bilateral discussion and agreement, in regard to the Minister for Justice and Equality answering questions, between the Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil Party. I was unaware that offer was going to be made and I want to see when the time and arrangements for that can be provided.

There is often something surreal about this place when we have endless hours of debate about matters of real importance on the airwaves and in the public domain, but we cannot have them here. That disconnect undermines what we do. It would be very helpful if the Taoiseach would simply outline when the statement will be made by the Minister for Justice and Equality and the nature of it in terms of time, and how the follow-through questions that the Taoiseach has already offered are to be constructed. What will be the level of the bilateral discussion that he has also offered between individual Deputies who have tabled questions and the Minister for Justice and Equality? How is that to take place and what shape or form will it take? It would be helpful to have that outlined.

I have a second point that I indicated to the Ceann Comhairle's office. I have asked that the first item on today's business, which is the motion to instruct counsel, would not be taken without debate. I have asked that five minutes be provided for groups because there are important constitutional matters that need to be aired. I ask for the agreement of the House to give each party or group five minutes to discuss that business before we agree to instruct counsel.

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