Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understood this was Thursday's business so I was waiting for that, but as the issue has been taken now, I will speak on it. I wrote to the Ceann Comhairle objecting to this motion being rammed through without debate. Now there is a miserly five minutes for each group. This motion is too important for that. It sends out all the wrong signals to people looking in at how we do business in this House. Like other speakers, I ask that the motion be withdrawn and we have the framework looked at by the committee. The matter is too serious. As Deputy Connolly said, if the Government is in trouble with missing EU deadlines, that is tough. We will all help out the Government but not without debate and proper discussion.

See this speech in context