Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste has spoken about the problems with how this House does its business. He has also spoken about the benefits and frailties of Mercosur. I want to know how, when he is Taoiseach, the Tánaiste's Government will interact with this House. The current Taoiseach seems to have no problem with Mercosur being passed without a vote of this House or the people of Ireland. Important Bills are regularly guillotined. For example, on the Communications Regulation Bill from the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, amendments were introduced the evening before Committee Stage so that nobody could table amendments to them. I now believe this Bill, as it stands, will be guillotined through the House. The Bill has constitutional frailties but it would also potentially involve the payment of large amounts of compensation to multinationals in Ireland. The Dutch equivalent has acknowledged that compensation will inevitably be part of it. How will the Tánaiste - when he is Taoiseach - interact with this House? Will he give a guarantee that he will not guillotine Bills and that important trade agreements such as Mercosur will require at least a vote of the House, if not of the people?

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