Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government, in its proposal, has put forward the exact formula and format that was agreed by the Business Committee in 2017 when Ms Justice Máire Whelan's appointment was questioned. At that time, there was agreement from the Business Committee, from the minority Government and from many Deputies who are now trying to construct this fake anger towards the constructive compromise proposal the Government has put forward. This format was agreed and approved. Many of the parties here who are opposing this proposal agreed with this format in 2017.

The Minister has agreed to come before the Dáil and has agreed to answer any of the questions Members are putting forward, and to make any other suggestion is unfair.

In relation to the Business Committee meeting to which Deputy Mattie McGrath and others made reference, it was five votes on each side. There was quite a balanced view at the Business Committee on this. It is also important to note that each time the Government comes up with a compromise and tries to propose something, the Opposition shouts and roars. It is Sinn Féin competing against the far left. We have had many examples where we have tried to provide compromise and it has been voted down.

We have a situation right now where we are proposing questions and answers, we are proposing statements with those questions and answers and we have an Opposition opposing the very thing it sought. In the spirit of what we are trying to do with the Business Committee, it is regrettable. It goes to show that with the minority trying to shout and roar at the Business Committee every week, as well as here in the Dáil, there has to be more of a constructive approach from Opposition and it must stop trying to promote an inaccurate representation of what the Minister has agreed to do-----

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