Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 April 2019

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also object to the Leader's outline of the Order of Business today. We have used the guillotine very infrequently in this Chamber which is to the credit of the Leader and all the Members of the House. I have chaired many hours of the debate on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017, among other discussions, and that has been a very useful debate. We have heard many interesting and helpful contributions from Members and any time somebody suggested to me that it was a filibuster I pointed out very clearly that it was not remotely a filibuster, that this is important legislation that needs to be discussed and carefully teased out. I have yet to hear any Member of the Chamber defend the Bill in question, including anyone on the benches where the Leader sits.

I may not have been here for as many hours as Senator McDowell but I would be up there for presence in the Chamber when it is being discussed and I have yet to hear one of the 60 Members of this Chamber say a good word about the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017. It is not typical of the Leader to try to ram it through and it is not becoming. It is slightly ironic that he is attempting to do it the day before the Taoiseach's annual address to this Chamber. The Leader might reflect on the proposal because I do not want to be voting against the Order of Business all the time but on this occasion I will have to object to that particular part of it that requires a guillotine. I am sorry to have to say that to the Leader because by and large I do not object to the Order of Business which is fair and reasonable. I do listen to it which not every Member does when it is being read out. They come back in at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. giving out about it. I tell them the Order of Business was decided that morning and everyone voted for it and did not oppose it.

It is important also to acknowledge this momentous day. I welcome Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. I met Congressman Brendan Boyle, who is part of the delegation, last year in Washington. I congratulate Billy Lawless on his ongoing engagement on all our behalf and his fantastic contribution on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to promoting Irish-American relations. I wonder if there is anyone in this Chamber who does not have relatives in America. My grandfather was the youngest of ten, one of whom died young and eight of whom went to America. Many of us have family connections, if perhaps distant, in America. There is a great bond there. I particularly welcome Ms Pelosi's comment on Brexit and the possibility of a trade deal if the Good Friday Agreement, an internationally recognised agreement, is not being respected.

I wish the Leader and all the Members a very happy Easter. I hope they get some time to rest and relax. We will not have an Order of Business tomorrow as far as I understand so this is the last one before Easter. I hope the Members will do some canvassing for the European and local elections but not as much as we will do, over the break.

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