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

I am very conscious of the fact that the Deputy has more parliamentary experience than I and the two other Members present in the Chamber put together. That might be a little different now that Deputy McGuinness has joined us. I am very conscious of the points made by the Deputy. I share his concern about the large volume of legislation being brought to the House at the end of term. This is a problem that has been raised in the past and remains to be resolved. The Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform today considered matters relating to pre-legislative scrutiny and I have introduced a measure which, when implemented, will shorten the timeframe of pre-legislative scrutiny. The problem here is that there was no pre-legislative scrutiny at all.

When it comes to this particular matter, Standing Orders 227 and 228 are the relevant Standing Orders. Standing Order 196 is the one that would allow the Clerk of the House to make an amendment but, since this is an amendment that is neither verbal nor formal in nature, he cannot intervene and, therefore, I must make a judgment. The judgment I have made, be it right or wrong, is that the relevant Standing Order is 228. To that end, however reluctantly, I am proposing that we proceed. I thank Deputy Howlin. He does the House a service by raising this matter.

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