Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear it. I find myself in happy agreement with Senator Bacik - shock, horror - on the subject of the need to defend the rights and dignity of cyclists. I am not as frequent a cyclist as the Senator, but I am trying. She makes an excellent spokesperson for the cause.

I share Senator Darragh O'Brien's concerns regarding the proposal that No. 1, which overrules Standing Orders, be taken without debate. I propose a second amendment to the Order of Business that the motion not be taken today. I do so for the very good reason that the Government clearly has not considered the implications of what it is doing. It is normally a matter for the Committee of Selection of Seanad Éireann to decide the make-up of the membership of Senators on the various Oireachtas committees. As well as nominating Senators, it also has power to discharge their membership from time to time for non-attendance or at Senators' requests and to appoint others in substitution for those discharged. In this instance, I understand the Committee of Selection, which is chaired by Senator Denis O'Donovan, has not met.

There is a serious issue here in terms of the misuse of power by political parties. The latter are not mentioned in the Constitution. In fact, Article 15.10 is quite clear that the Houses, in making their own rules, do so in order to ensure freedom of debate. Parties moving in ruthlessly and immediately to dismiss people from committees of the Oireachtas because they sought their own freedom of debate and freedom of voting is an abuse of the committee system in party political interest.