Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Order of Business is agreed by the Business Committee and sometimes people vote for the Business Committee's Order of Business. It does not mean they are against holding a debate on something else. It is unfair to cast that aspersion on Members. When Members vote for an Order of Business that has been agreed by the Business Committee, that suddenly gets translated as these Deputies being against the sector on which another Deputy sought a debate. That is too cynical by half and it goes on far too often in the House.

On Deputy Whitmore's question, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is reflecting on that situation and will be coming to Government next week on it. I do not think he has any issue with coming before the committee.

He has indicated to me and to the Government that he wants to come before the committee and the House more generally.

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