FEMPI debate schedule
Deputy Boyd Barrett complained that the FEMPI renewal debate had been pushed to an evening slot and asked for a vote rather than statements. The Taoiseach said the Minister’s availability and the Business Committee’s decision explained the timing, and the debate was scheduled for Thursday evening.
Not agreed.
Comment on this
For a number of weeks, I have signalled at the Business Committee that we need to have a debate on the renewal of the FEMPI emergency legislation. The latter is very draconian legislation which was brought in on an emergency basis to cut people's pensions and pay, make them work hours for nothing and so on. It was all justified on the basis of an emergency. That legislation is renewed each year. The emergency is over. It is a hallmark of a tin-pot dictatorship to maintain emergency legislation after emergencies end. Mubarak did it, for example. Many other regimes do it.
Comment on this
Indeed. At the very minimum, we should have a vote on the legislation. As part of the debate, we should be allowed put forward motions in order that there be a vote as to whether we renew this extremely draconian legislation which impacts on hundreds of thousands of workers in this country. I would also like to point out that, having raised the matter over a number of weeks at the Business Committee, we finally secured broad agreement last week that this debate would take place on Thursday morning. It was then relegated to the graveyard slot on Thursday. Frankly, I think that is deliberate. It is because the Government does not want this issue discussed and it does not want it voted upon. It wants to have a minimum of discussion. The debate should happen on Thursday morning and there should be provision for Deputies, groups and parties to put forward motions so that we can vote on whether to renew this draconian legislation. Legislation on offences against the State has to be renewed every year. We have to vote on it because we understand how serious an infringement it is on people's rights.
Comment on this
This draconian legislation must be voted on and be discussed in prime Dáil time.
Comment on this
To make it clear for the record, we did attempt to convene this debate on Wednesday or Thursday morning but the Minister was not available. It is important that the Minister be present.
