Decision to adjourn Dáil plenary sessions criticised

THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to adjourn plenary sessions of the Dáil until next Tuesday week was criticised.

The Oireachtas finance committee will today and next week consider the committee stage of the Nama legislation in the Dáil chamber to allow all TDs to participate, if they wish. Only members of the committee, which has a Government majority, will be entitled to vote on amendments.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmoresaid that the Dáil should meet today and next week in normal plenary session, with an order of business and questions.

“For the past two or three years, it has been the practice that the Dáil sits normally the week after the October bank holiday,” he said. “That should remain the case.” Mr Gilmore accused the Government of pretending that the Dáil was in session next week by having the Oireachtas committee meet in the chamber.

Labour, he said, had proposed the committee stage of that Bill be dealt with by the entire Dáil.

“What is happening in this case is that the Nama Bill has been referred to the select committee and it is, effectively, hiring the Dáil chamber for the business to be conducted tomorrow and next week,” said Mr Gilmore.

Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaighsaid that given the scale of the legislation, all members of the House should be entitled to participate at committee stage, rather than in a select committee, so that they could table amendments.

When a division was challenged, the Government won by 68 votes to 63.

Fine Gael's David Stauntonrecalled that the Government had established a working party to consider Dáil reform nine months ago. He asked the Taoiseach if the House would ever see its proposals.

"The deputy will understand I have some other preoccupations at present," Brian Cowenreplied.