Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Instead, we have found ourselves in this never-ending debate on speaking rights which has been defined by vitriol, barracking, anger, obstruction and a complete disregard and disrespect for the Ceann Comhairle and her office. There has been blocking of the election of a Taoiseach and the attempt to obstruct votes and shut down business. The attempts to shout down the Ceann Comhairle which have taken place in recent weeks is an attempt to shift Ireland to a really destructive and divisive politics.

As a former Government Chief Whip during the last term, I always valued how we worked together at the Business Committee to try to build consensus in the House where we could. It is incumbent on all of us to work together to urgently restore a collegiate and constructive approach. During the last term we often disagreed but we were always able to find a way forward on many of the issues. We know that, through engagement, that is possible when it comes to all of the respective parties and groupings. I think Opposition Whips need to reflect on this. It is incumbent on all of us to work urgently to restore what was there previously in the public interest. We urgently need to establish the Oireachtas committees to have pre-legislative scrutiny on many of the legislative priorities, which is an important piece of parliamentary democracy. We need to give committees and all Members across the House an opportunity to play an active and constructive role and to work collaboratively.

Pure opposition politics should not trump the public interest and we need to urgently restore mutual respect in this House. We need to restore respect for the office of the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy-----

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