Money messages and blocked Bills
Deputy Paul Murphy and others objected to the business because the Government was using money messages and related procedures to block many Bills, especially climate and other progressive measures. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle repeatedly cut off extended argument, and the Chief Whip said the House had to proceed with a crowded final week’s agenda.
We have heard the announcement of the business for the week. There are three proposals to be put to the House. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?
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They are not agreed to. We cannot agree to an Order of Business for the final sitting week before the summer recess that does not allow the Dáil to address the scandalous abuse of money messages by the Government. The Government has been acting in a manner that is completely undemocratic and arguably unconstitutional by using the denial of money messages to ensure Bills that have the support of a majority in this House are prevented from progressing. I have a list of over 50 Bills in alphabetical order.
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The first is the Anti-Evictions Bill 2018.
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The third is the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016.
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The last in alphabetical order is the waste management Bill.
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We know that the Bills on the list will be be joined by others-----
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The Deputy is not saving the planet with all that paper.
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-----including the No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019 and the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018.
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This is relevant to the Order of Business.
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The irony is completely lost on him.
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The reasoned response to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 which is extremely important gives the game away.
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The content of the reasoned response is not about money.
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The Government thinks it has an executive veto which it does not have.
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It is using that executive veto.
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Time needs to be provided this week to amend Standing Orders.
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We have proposed a motion to amend Standing Orders in a way that would resolve this issue.
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There are other proposals-----
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-----for which time needs to be allocated.
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We need to have that discussion this week.
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We need to stop this veto.
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
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The Rural Independent Group is not happy with the proposal to consider the establishment of a citizens' assembly today without debate.
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A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
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I support Deputy Paul Murphy. The Government has treated the Order of Business in this House in a way that is completely undemocratic. The Deputy has cited the example of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 which is critical. The Government has used money messages at the end of a lengthy process which involved this House voting to proceed to Committee Stage.
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The Government's approach to the climate emergency Bill is the worst and most egregious example.
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It is absolutely appropriate to stand up for the rights of this House.
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Members are allowed to put their case.
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The Government has interfered in the ordering of legislation in an unconstitutional way.
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It is fully appropriate that this be a key issue for consideration before we adjourn for the summer.
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I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
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No. The Deputy was represented. I took one Deputy from each group. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?
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Can we get an answer from the Government?
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We are in the last week. The amount of business we are trying to get through makes it one of the busiest weeks of the year. We have tried to comply with all of the requests that have come in in recent days. We are facilitating a question and answer session on the Mercosur deal. We are setting aside time for a debate on Mr. Justice O'Neill's report. The Ceann Comhairle submitted the request that came to the Business Committee with regard to money messages to the Committee on Procedure. He expects to receive a report on the matter in the autumn.