Dáil debates

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion

 

6:15 pm

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

The next item is a motion regarding confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence. It is due to conclude within 110 minutes and any division demanded will be taken immediately. Before we commence, I wish to remind Members of certain rules of debate. It is a long-standing rule that allegations of a serious nature against an officeholder can only be made by substantive motion in the House, which is a point I believe I made earlier today. A motion of confidence cannot be used as a vehicle to allow Members to make serious allegations by innuendo or otherwise without notice across the floor of the House.

In the interests of fair procedure, any Member is entitled to have notice of any allegations to be made in order to have time to prepare a considered response. While a motion of confidence invariably gives rise to charges of a political nature, it is not in order to impugn the character, good name or integrity of any Member. The character of the Minister is not the issue in this motion; what is at issue is the matter of confidence in the Minister as Minister. As we are all pretty clear on the rules of engagement, I call the Taoiseach followed by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and they have 15 minutes between them.

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