The programme for Government "seeks to move beyond division and discord and find shared solutions". The Social Democrats have committed to providing a constructive Opposition in this Dáil term. It beggars belief that the Government has come together as one with Sinn Féin to exclude voices of the Social Democrats, Solidarity-People Before Profit and Independent groupings from the speaking times.

Hear, hear.

It is undemocratic and unfair. It is very disappointing that Sinn Féin has joined the Government on this front.

Hear, hear.

It is important that we can all represent our constituents. We cannot be squeezed out of our speaking time. I ask that the Tánaiste and Sinn Féin reconsider this decision because it does not bode well for the future of this term if dissenting or Opposition voices will be squeezed out of the discussion.

I am not au fait with the details of this matter but the Deputy Chief Whip, Deputy Griffin, tells me that what has been said is not accurate, and Deputies will have 20 minutes of speaking time. What we are endeavouring to have in this Dáil, which is entirely appropriate, is that speaking time should be proportionate. Every Deputy elected to the Dáil has a mandate, and every mandate is equal. We had a situation in the previous Dáil where Government backbenchers could not get speaking time. Independent Deputies and people from micro parties got more speaking time than Government backbenchers did. That was not fair.

It is not about how much time is given.

Everybody elected to this House is equal and their mandate is equal.

The Government is trying to muzzle the Opposition.

Deputies opposite can try to shout us down as much as they like but we are going to re-establish democracy in this House. This means that every Deputy is equal, every Deputy should have an equal right to speaking time and there should be no preferential arrangements for Independent Deputies or micro parties.

The Government will not silence Opposition Deputies.