Claim to allow change in standing orders rejected

CEANN COMHAIRLE Séamus Kirk rejected Opposition assertions that the Dáil’s standing orders could be changed to allow for questions to Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday.

The Government decided that Dáil business should be restricted to statements on the Ryan report and a debate on legislation.

Mr Kirk insisted that he did not have any discretion on the issue.

“As we know, the Government proposes and the House disposes,” he said.

Mr Kirk adjourned the Dáil for 10 minutes when Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh continued to insist that the Order of Business be changed to allow for questions.

The Opposition argued, however, that the traditional leaders’ questions to the Taoiseach could be allowed under the Dáil’s standing orders.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said that standing orders was specific on the issue. It provided that on the commencement of business on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Ceann Comhairle could permit, at his or her discretion, a brief question not exceeding two minutes from each leader in the Opposition to the Taoiseach about a matter of public topical importance.

Under yesterday’s schedule, Mr Kenny said, there were no Opposition leaders’ questions, no oral questions, no Order of Business, no adjournment debate, no votes and no accountability to the Dáil by the Government.

He said he wanted to ask the Taoiseach about a number of issues, including figures released by the HSE on the Friday of a bank holiday weekend, revealing that 188 children had died while in the State’s care.

Two women had spoken on radio earlier about how their healthy children would not have been born if they had followed the instructions given to them under the HSE system. Two banking reports were also being published yesterday, he added.

Although the entire State was talking about those issues, the Dáil was being denied the opportunity this week to say anything about them, he added.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore also referred to various issues which had arisen since the Dáil had adjourned on Thursday of last week.

Insisting that the Ceann Comhairle could allow Opposition leaders’ questions, Mr Gilmore outlined a number of precedents, which, he said, confirmed his view.

Where it was intended that Opposition leaders’ questions would not be taken, specific provision had to be made for this in a Dáil motion.

However, there was no such provision in the motion, relating to this week’s business, passed by the House last week.

“If the Ceann Comhairle decides and interprets the decision of last Thursday to mean there should be no leaders’ questions, he is setting a precedent that will seriously disadvantage non-Government members of the House and the Opposition parties,” Mr Gilmore added.

“It will be a precedent I and the Labour Party find unacceptable.”

Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said Mr Kirk had indicated last week that this week’s business could be changed.