Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I formally welcome Senator Hildegarde Naughton who replaces Dr. Martin McAleese. I extend my best wishes to the Senator for her term in the Seanad and look forward to her contribution to debate. I note her arrival coincides with a week where very little is happening in the House.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to move motion No. 7 on the Order Paper. I do so in response to the Government's decision to set aside Standing Orders on Friday by going above the heads of members of the established Committee of Selection. Chaired by the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the cross-party committee deals with the replacement of members of committees.

We withdrew for the first time ever from the House last Friday, on the basis that the Government had just tried to ram these changes through. We also noted Senator John Kelly's remarks on Friday that he did not consent to serving on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs in replacement for Senator James Heffernan.

This is a serious matter. Does what happened this time mean that if anyone else is to be removed from a committee, it will simply be done by way of a motion on the Order Paper that is then rammed through the House? That is not the way to do business. We try as best we can to be co-operative, although we disagree on many issues, but that is fine. That is what politics is about. However, why have Standing Orders and a Committee of Selection or a Committee on Procedure and Privileges, if the Government can, when it suits it, decide to set these aside and make the changes it wishes to make?

Therefore, I intend to move an amendment to the Order of Business today providing for the reversal of the decisions taken by the Government. What we are asking is simply that the issue be allowed go to the Committee of Selection. I do not see what the rush is. Senator Heffernan lost the Labour Party Whip a number of months ago but he has remained on the committee up to now. The obvious reason for the removal of the other Members from committees is that they did not toe the party Whip. They are being thrown off their committees, regardless of their expertise or experience in those areas. This a further example not just of the creeping centralisation of power, but the most overt centralisation of power, which is now vested in the Taoiseach and the Government Chief Whip. I do not believe this House should be told what to do by the Government Chief Whip as he has nothing to do with this House. Therefore, I intend to move this amendment today.

In regard to tomorrow's Order of Business, will the Leader confirm that the Taoiseach will come to the House tomorrow for the debate on the Thirty-Second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013 as he said he would on Second Stage? If so, that will afford me the opportunity to ask the Taoiseach directly about the contacts he had with Anglo Irish Bank and with his constituent in Castlebar, Mr. Moran.