Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I want to briefly focus on the lack of committees. That is a massive point. It is significant that we currently have a pinch point in terms of the Opposition and the Government and how speaking time is allocated in this Chamber. As a result, that is slowing down the development of committees, which are a major tool of oversight of Government activities and also necessary for the delivery of the legislative programme. It is important that this issue gets resolved ASAP. We need Standing Orders that reflect the multiparty system we have, that clearly defines the difference between an Opposition TD and a Government TD and assigns speaking times on that basis.

Members who are outside the technical group system should also have the right to speak. Everybody is here on the basis of democratic mandate and they should be able to represent their constituents on an equal basis with everybody else. Standing Orders are historical and they are no longer fit for purpose.

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