Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Writing in The Irish Timestoday about the Canada-Europe trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, Senator McDowell is rightly critical of what he regards as the cavalier approach of the Government to Oireachtas scrutiny. As we know, CETA would involve giving foreign corporations the power to sue sovereign states outside our legal system through the investor court system. Whatever about whether giving away such a power away should be subject to a referendum, the idea that the Dáil would have been given a ludicrous 55 minutes to debate such a far-reaching issue says something about the Government's attitude to the role of the Oireachtas.

When I look at this week's Order of Business, I see that the Appropriation Bill will go through all Stages, as will the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017. I understand that in order for money to flow, the Appropriation Bill has to be passed in December. The question is why it is only coming now. When one looks at something like the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, however, one can see that it is legislation which will require thorough analysis.It deals with all sorts of issues, whether it is revenge porn or other situations involving a breach of copyright of intimate photographs or images and so on. This should be put to the Seanad for a debate at all Stages just before Christmas. This shows contempt for the job we must do as legislators. I do not know what the Government wants. Does it want to move to a dictatorship or something? We have been at a point for a long time now where public respect for politicians is quite low. I do not think that is a newsflash to anybody here. The Government takes the legs from under us when we try to do the very job we are put here to do, which is to look at legislation thoroughly, speak about it on Second Stage and come forward with amendments on Committee Stage, which the Government just might think are worthwhile, and then it will come back with some version of its own on Report Stage. None of that can happen if the Government runs legislation through at all Stages. There is a profound disrespect for both the Dáil and the Oireachtas at the moment. The Government knows it can push through what it wants when it wants with its heavy majority. There are, however, consequences to that approach. There will be a further deepening of public contempt for politicians and the job of legislative scrutiny, which is vital to a parliamentary democracy.

In conclusion, we are at the time for new year's resolutions. Could we have a new year's resolution that this pathetic and insulting rushing through of legislation at all Stages will stop? Can we start by saying the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017 will be broken and brought into the new year so we might, at least, have a separation of Committee Stage from Report Stage? I ask the Leader to think seriously about what is going on here and come back with a positive response. I believe I speak for more than just myself on this issue.