Shane Ross (Independent)

Due to the inclination of Members to raise issues on the Order of Business not strictly relevant to it, we often miss the Order of Business. I am concerned with the habit in the House of continuously passing, without debate and without noticing it, limits and restrictions on the debating of legislation. The important Aer Lingus Bill will go through the House in less than three hours today with spokespersons restricted to a maximum of 15 minutes, ten minutes for others and Members sharing time. We may be pushing legislation through the House too quickly. I see no reason there should always be restrictions on speaking time on Second Stage. We might, from time to time, have an open-ended debate without restriction.

Many Members referred to electronic voting. While I am opposed to its introduction, we must be careful in what we say about the commission. I have no problem with it. It is the Opposition which, by saying that commission members are of the highest integrity, puts itself in a difficult position. If Fianna Fáil had appointed, as is sometimes its wont and that of all parties, political hacks, there would be blue bloody murder. However, when it appoints people of absolute integrity, we criticise the Government and say the appointees are compromised. We cannot have it both ways.

My position is a fair one, namely that this commission is made up of those of the highest integrity. We should accept what they have to say, and a commitment in that regard should come from the Government because commission members are patently non-political.