Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday's meeting of the Dáil reform committee was a staged set event by Government politicians present. My understanding was we would all put forward proposals, which we did as well as the Government did, then discuss them, iron out what issues we had and draw up an agreement, but instead of Dáil reform being Dáil reform, last night it became Dáil dictate with the Chief Whip calling a vote. It was a first for Dáil reform. It was seconded by another member of Fianna Fáil but, in a show of unity to this appalling moment in Irish democracy, Deputy Emer Currie of Fine Gael made sure she got the Fine Gael hand print on this piece of work by stating she was the seconder to this now-dubbed "Michael Lowry" document, giving extra speaking slots to them as if they are in opposition plus other loss of Question Time to the Taoiseach. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton read the following words into the Dáil record on 23 January, "The Government will today bring forward a motion to establish the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform, to fully engage with the committee and to work to secure agreement, as soon as possible and acceptable to Government and Opposition". Now the Government is ignoring this by railroading this new Lowry plan. Will the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach meet with the leaders of the Opposition to come up with a solution to this crisis?

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