The programme for Government commits to enhancing the democratic process by involving public representatives at an earlier stage in the legislative process. It also refers to the over-use of the guillotine with regard to legislation. Under the last Government, 74% of all the legislation was scheduled for the guillotine. Last night there was a guillotine and we did not get to discuss all of the Bill. I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of that and is not comfortable with it. This issue was raised yesterday but I did not hear any commitment to the programme for Government's intent to deal with the heavy over-use of the guillotine or that there will be a more normal approach to dealing with business. Is that commitment still in place? What measures will be put in place to deal with the over-use of the guillotine?

The second item I wish to raise relates to a motion I tabled. I do not wish to have a situation where I and other Members must try to raise things on the Order of Business and I am sure that is not the Taoiseach's intention. Could a change be made to Standing Orders to permit one Member of the Technical Group to speak at the time business is ordered?

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Can time be provided? The Whips have said they will not permit that change. We are a third of the Opposition and this is not right. If we are to do our jobs, please permit us to have time to deal with that.

That is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

I am sure it is a glitch, but it must be changed.

The commitment in respect of the guillotine stands. As I said yesterday, on a significant number of occasions there were no speakers where debates on Bills were listed to be shortened. I would be most willing to have a structure in the House whereby there would be breaks between Second, Committee and Report Stages and, if the people decide to abolish the Seanad later this year, there would also be a pre-enactment stage and a break between Report Stage and that stage. Other parliaments publish a full list of legislation for the year, but that would create many difficulties here because of the way things actually happen.

However, the Chief Whip will shortly bring forward a number of recommendations which will hopefully improve how the Dáil does its work. The Ceann Comhairle has many years of experience here and he had a number of very practical suggestions about this also. Many things have been tried over the years. Some have been good for a while but have then changed and not been as effective as people would have thought. The commitment in respect of having a more effective structure for dealing with legislation stands. The Chief Whip will bring forward a proposal on that in the not too distant future.