Dáil debates
Friday, 13 January 2012
Business of Dáil
10:30 am
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Before we commence our business today, a very serious issue has arisen. On the motion yesterday about the use of the guillotine-----
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Let me may explain. On the allocation of time motion regarding the Water Services (Amendment) Bill, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, informed the House-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. The order for today was decided yesterday. We are discussing Private Members' business which is the only item on the agenda. The Deputy will have an opportunity next week to raise this matter.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The House was seriously misled yesterday-----
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ó Cuív had his chance yesterday.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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May I make just one comment?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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No, I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ó Cuív had his chance yesterday. Throw him out.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I want order on all sides, please.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I seek the advice of the Leas-Cheann Comahirle.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy must resume his seat because we must move on to deal with Private Members' business. The only reason the House is sitting today is to discuss the legislation in the name of Deputy Collins.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I ask for the advice of the Chair-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can come to my office later. He should, please, resume his seat.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will have to suspend the sitting, unless the Deputy sits down.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The House was misled yesterday by the Minister, Deputy Quinn, who said the reason for guillotining -----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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That is not the issue for today. Order, please.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----the debate on the Water Services (Amendment) Bill-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can table a motion on the matter. That is enough; I am suspending the sitting for five minutes.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Niall Collins.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat? I wish to make one statement and ask for order.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Twice in the House on this day-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat? The Chair is on his feet.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----we have been lied to-----
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I will not withdraw it because it is the truth.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. Any allegations about misleading the House cannot be made in the Dáil-----
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Let us not rush. They are misleading the House. They are misleading the country also.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Any allegations about misleading the House should be made by way of substantive motion. Today's Order of Business relates to Private Members' business, the Bill to be introduced by Deputy Niall Collins.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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They are misleading themselves and do not know it.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I call on Deputy Collins. I apologise to Deputy Ó Cuív, but there will be no further debate on this issue.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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There was incorrect information given for the second time in regard to the Water Services (Amendment) Bill-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. I repeat, any allegations about misleading the House are made by way of substantive motion.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This leads to a serious issue that two votes were taken yesterday based on a false premise. Can I take it-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy does not resume his seat, he will have to leave the House.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Never mind that nobody matters in this House-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please, if the Deputy does not resume his seat-----
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Can I take it that the votes-----
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Excuse me. How dare the Government Whip tell me to sit down. That is the Chair's job.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am asking the Deputy to resume his seat.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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That is what the bully boys over there do. It is outrageous. How dare the Whip-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Will the Chair restrain the Whip?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy resume his seat?
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I will. I trust the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will be fair to all Members.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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They are saying something about a fiver. Would the Chair ever ask-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. I will be fair to all Members.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thought we were dealing with the motion. I object, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to these snide remarks. They pushed through two votes on this. I put it to the Minister before we came in and he said he was not even aware of that.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We already decided yesterday.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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He said the Whip had done it. The Whip is here now and can answer us. The votes were pushed through on a false premise.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I call Deputy Collins.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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We have been misled. It is pig in a poke legislation, with no guidelines and no information on it.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. I have already said that any allegations of misleading the House should be made by way of substantive motion, not across the floor.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It was totally misleading. The Minister is here. He can tell us.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Did the Deputy get travelling expenses?
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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They are making allegations about fivers or something. They think the people are fools altogether.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to stop. He should resume his seat.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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He said I got travelling expenses. These are scurrilous allegations. They are false. Will the Chair deal with him?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with everybody fairly.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Twice this morning he has made allegations that are untrue.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Allegations that have been made in this House should be dealt with by way of substantive motion.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Is the Chair going to check the Member?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am dealing with the matter and will be fair to everybody.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am not going to sit down until the Chair checks the Member.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy must resume his seat.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Show some fairness.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will be fair to everybody in the House.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Chair is not being fair.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot while there is too much noise.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It is not noise. Allegations have been made over there that are scurrilous, without basis and untrue.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Too many allegations are being made and there is too much noise.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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This will be the last point on this.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that. As the Chair can see, there is some difficulty here this morning in trying to reach a consensus on how we should proceed. Much of the difficulty relates to the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. I suggest the Chair allow the Whips ten minutes to met outside the House and suggest he suspends the sitting for ten minutes to allow them to discuss the issue. Considering the Minister is available today, they should see if they can reach any kind of compromise on this fraught issue. Otherwise, we will continue to have difficulty.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Allowing that discussion would be in line with the commitment of the Government to bring a level of reform to the way in which we do business. Seeing as the issue has arisen-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has made his point.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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-----will the Chair allow a suspension to discuss this issue?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has made his point and should resume his seat. The Business was ordered yesterday. We have a Bill to discuss today and I have called on Deputy Niall Collins to introduce it.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Chair's prerogative to suspend the sitting. I ask him to do this to seek agreement.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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There is no point. I cannot accept the Deputy's suggestion because the business was discussed yesterday and now we have the Bill to be discussed today.
Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I do not want to cause disruption. I respect the House, as do most of those here. However, for the sake of ten minutes, allow the Whips sit down to have a conversation, give the Minister a chance to have a cup of tea and get his thoughts together. I appeal to the Chair.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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We have already had a suspension, but that is not the point. If one wants to allege-----
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Was the House misled yesterday?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Deputy, please, resume his seat?
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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The Chair is getting very big for his boots very quickly and would want to be brought down to size. He is getting very arrogant.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Was the House misled yesterday? That is what I want to know.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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For the last time, I ask the Deputy to sit down.
Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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What does the Whip have to say about it? Was the House misled yesterday?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat. I have already ruled that we cannot-----
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Dooley has made a very reasonable proposal to try to resolve the matter.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot accept that proposal because we already set the order yesterday for today's business and have already had one suspension. I will have to adjourn the House completely if this disorder continues.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The order was based on a false premise. The Whip was there yesterday, waving his hands and all. It was done falsely and it was not a lie - I hate using the word - but it was a lie we were told yesterday, because-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy cannot use that word.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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-----we know all about it from the European Commission. This is Dáil reform as we call it, to curtail the committees as well as the House.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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It was a precedent that the debate at the committee was being guillotined-----
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should resume his seat or he will have to leave the House.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Is the Chair going to deal with the Whip?
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Chair is on his feet. I will deal with everybody in the House.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Chair has not dealt with the Whip at all. I ask the Chair again to be fair.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I am being fair to everybody.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Allegations were made about me and they are scurrilous lies and-----
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Throw him out, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will have to leave the House if he does not resume his seat. These issues can be dealt with and the Deputy knows how that can be done. He must go to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Deputy would love to have me gone out of here in order that he could get away with peddling his lies.