Angry Opposition members accused the Government of making an absolutely unprecedented parliamentary move in the House last night. They expressed amazement at the Coalition's decision to oppose the passing of the Shannon River Council Bill, despite the fact that no one on either side of the House had spoken against it.
Senior Seanad member Mr Maurice Manning (FG) said it was the first occasion in the history of the Oireachtas that a Bill had passed unopposed through crucial stages and had then been opposed at the final hurdle by the Government. He recalled that the proposed measure had been introduced by Fianna Fail members several years ago and had been resurrected more recently as a result of Opposition pressure following flooding of the Shannon. Its aim was to provide a single authority to regulate the use of the waterway.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said it was beyond his comprehension that the two Government parties who had supported the Bill were going to vote against its final passage. This was an abomination of democracy. It was a shameful night's work. He did not think that any parliamentary democracy anywhere in the world would be expected to accept such behaviour.
Ms Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) accused the Government of a cynical somersault. The Bill had been supported by speakers on the Government side, she said. No one had put forward a reason for opposing any section of it. The Government's turnabout defied logic.
The vote on the Bill was declared lost by 29-20.