This Orwellian rubbish is beneath contempt
The government is attempting to rewrite Dáil rules for the benefit of Lowry Independents, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan.
Deputy O’Callaghan said:
“The submission by the government, on Dáil reform, is outrageous. They want to afford Lowry Independents, who are government backbench TDs, speaking slots on a par with opposition party leaders.
“Their submission states: “A modern parliament is not necessarily made up of ‘government’ and ‘opposition’ members, and there are members who can’t readily be categorised as such”.
“This frankly Orwellian rubbish is beneath contempt. Unless the government is basing its analysis on autocratic regimes, it is clear in every modern democratic parliament where the demarcation between government and opposition lies.
“The government don’t need to listen to me in relation to this. All they need to do is review a multiplicity of public statements made by members of the Lowry Independents in which they declared themselves to be proud members of the government.
“Lowry Independents may want to have their cake and eat it too, but the question is why are Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael so hell bent on accommodating them?
“This attempt to carve up Dáil speaking time, and deny the reality that Lowry Independents are government backbench TDs, is dangerous and damaging.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael made a mess of this debacle when the Dáil returned. Are they now going to create further chaos by proceeding with these antidemocratic proposals?”