Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is very unsatisfactory in such a situation, where one wants to extend the life of a commission with a view to creating more time, to be told that because it might cost the Exchequer some money we cannot even discuss the idea or raise the issue on the floor of the House. Senator Norris has been very strong on modifying that rule and it would require an interaction between the Dáil and the Seanad because it has implications for money messages and things like that. In this House, it seems a ridiculous constraint on our debate, especially since my amendment was only ruled out of order because it was an amendment to a Government Bill. If I had introduced a Bill to achieve the same thing, that is, to extend the life of the commission, it would have been perfectly permissible for us to debate it in Private Members' time. It is a strange aspect of our procedure here, to which the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will have to return. We need a more balanced approach to these kinds of matters.