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03/07/2009
Guillotine Used To 'New Levels Of Ridiculousness'
The Labour leader has slammed the Government over 'guillotining' bills going through the Daíl.
Eamon Gilmore objected to the Government's use of guillotine practices, which allow bills to be voted on without full debate in order to push through legislation, saying its use has been taken to new levels of "ridiculousness".
The Labour leader said: "By my count, there are 12 proposals involving a guillotine. Four of the items of legislation the House is being asked to deal with next week are entirely new and have not appeared before the House thus far."
Mr Gilmore added that two of the Bills have yet to be published, one of which deals with the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty.
"Among all of this, 90 minutes will be allocated next Tuesday for the debate on Committee, Report and Final Stages of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 which has far-reaching implications for the criminal justice system," he added.
There has been growing concern over the Justice amendment bill, which grants extensive new powers to Gardaí and the courts that some commentators think go too far.
Speaking in the Daíl today, Mr Gilmore complained the time allotted in the Daíl for discussions was not sufficient to allow the degree of scrutiny Bills require.
"It is not unusual that we find ourselves in a position at the end of a Dáil session where the Government is using the guillotine to push through legislation, either to get it out of the way or to minimise the amount of public attention it will receive.
"However, on this occasion, it has taken the use of the guillotine and the ordering of business to a new level of ridiculousness."
(DW/BMcC)
Eamon Gilmore objected to the Government's use of guillotine practices, which allow bills to be voted on without full debate in order to push through legislation, saying its use has been taken to new levels of "ridiculousness".
The Labour leader said: "By my count, there are 12 proposals involving a guillotine. Four of the items of legislation the House is being asked to deal with next week are entirely new and have not appeared before the House thus far."
Mr Gilmore added that two of the Bills have yet to be published, one of which deals with the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty.
"Among all of this, 90 minutes will be allocated next Tuesday for the debate on Committee, Report and Final Stages of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 which has far-reaching implications for the criminal justice system," he added.
There has been growing concern over the Justice amendment bill, which grants extensive new powers to Gardaí and the courts that some commentators think go too far.
Speaking in the Daíl today, Mr Gilmore complained the time allotted in the Daíl for discussions was not sufficient to allow the degree of scrutiny Bills require.
"It is not unusual that we find ourselves in a position at the end of a Dáil session where the Government is using the guillotine to push through legislation, either to get it out of the way or to minimise the amount of public attention it will receive.
"However, on this occasion, it has taken the use of the guillotine and the ordering of business to a new level of ridiculousness."
(DW/BMcC)
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Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Chance of one or two showers across the south at first this evening. Otherwise it will be a dry night with a few fog patches. Minimum temperature 4 °C.
