Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The dilemma is that I am faced with a Bill on which I am doing a job. I am trying to put into the Bill precisely what people say should happen. The intention of the amendment is to have within our grasp in both Houses of the Oireachtas the ability to change the agenda as far as the Oireachtas is concerned for the start of the process of talks. This is the net point in our amendment. I have repeatedly said that Governments of various descriptions — although Fianna Fáil has been in power more than Fine Gael has been of late — have continually dumbed down the Dáil and Seanad in terms of debate. Every major Government statement is made, not in this House or the other House, but in the press briefing section of the Department of the Taoiseach and some stupendous other location.