Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----and all of the changes to Standing Orders in the world will not alter that fact. To collude in an absurdity like that does the Office of the Ceann Comhairle no favours and I suspect the Ceann Comhairle knows that herself.

The actual Opposition has tabled an amendment to the motion and I urge Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and indeed, the Lowry group, to consider this amendment, which simply recognises the fact that if the Ceann Comhairle is to fulfil her obligations under Standing Order 10, she should retain the confidence of both the Government and the Opposition. Surely, that is the minimum we can expect.

The label "do nothing Government" has been attached, quite rightly, to this Government. While they have achieved very little beyond pay rises for themselves and jobs for the boys, they have succeeded in one thing; they have shown the Opposition can come together and act collectively when we need to.

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