THE LABOUR Party is planning to get Taoiseach Brian Cowen to come into the Dáil today to answer for the Government despite plans to have a session without questions this week.
Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg said a procedural motion regarding Dáil-sitting arrangements for this week, which was forced through by the Government last Thursday, made no reference to leaders’ questions not being taken.
Mr Stagg said that given the terms of the motion, Labour would be insisting Mr Cowen is present in the Dáil to answer for the Government.
He said the procedural motion listed the items of business, normally provided for in standing orders, that would not be taken this week. These included oral questions, the order of business, adjournment debates and standing order 32, private members business and the taking of divisions.
Mr Stagg said that there was no reference to leaders’ questions in the motion even though standing order 27 provided that “at the commencement of public business on Tuesdays and Wednesday, the Ceann Comhairle may permit, at his or her discretion, a brief question not exceeding two minutes from each leader in Opposition.”
“In their rush to gag the Dáil, it appears that the drafters of the Government motion forgot to include any reference to leaders questions,” Mr Stagg said.
“I have today written to the Ceann Comhairle drawing his attention to the fact that there was no reference to leaders’ questions in the motion passed . . . asking him to confirm what time leaders’ questions will be taken.”
He added that the reports on the banking crisis, the disclosure of the number of children who died in care over the past decade and the interception in international waters of the Irish-owned relief vessel, the MV Rachel Corrie, were all issues that could and should be raised in the Dáil.
