Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned about the inadequacy of replies given on Adjournment debates. I wrote to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on this matter, expressing the view that if there is an inadequate response the Leader and the Cathaoirleach should ask the senior Minister in the relevant Department to come before the person who tabled the matter on the Adjournment. If the Departments continue to give inadequate answers, as they have been doing, I would question whether there is any need for this Chamber. I hear all the time about how important this Chamber is but it seems it is not remotely important when we hear the answers that come from certain Departments. The Department of Education and Skills is the worst. I described it as similar to the old Soviet Politburo because it operates on a need-to-know basis and it decides who needs to know what. We should take this on in a serious manner, because we have not yet attempted to do anything about it.

If this Chamber is serious about being relevant it should clear all business before it and ask the Minister for Health and Children to come in here for an in-depth, informative and possibly open-ended debate about the destruction of the Guthrie cards. This could lead to deaths. That is how serious the issue is.