Vol. 341 No. 10
, Dún Laoghaire): I move:
That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the proceedings on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Stages of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1982, and on the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Stages of the Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 1982, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6.30 p.m. today by putting from the Chair forthwith and successively the Questions necessary to bring them to a conclusion.
This is as a result of agreement between the Whips.
: Is the motion agreed?
: I wish to object again to the use of the guillotine in this fashion. As I said previously, I registered my objection on Second Stage, at which time I was denied the right to speak. Although I had put down an amendment which was subsequently voted on, I was refused the right to speak because of the use of the guillotine. The amendment I put down was to the effect that the subject required much more serious discussion and debate and that it should have been referred to an all-party committee. Because I still believe the subject requires much more discussion, thought and examination by this House in the interests of democracy, I object to the use of the guillotine in this fashion. If anyone wishes to speak he or she should be given the right to do so. There should be no question of rushing through the amendment.
(Dún Laoghaire): By agreement between the Whips it was decided that all Stages would be taken today. There is no desire on my part to prevent anyone from speaking. That is why we have given the whole day to a debate on the matter and why we also gave adequate time on Second Stage for anyone who wished to speak. We allowed the debate for a number of days and we considered that people had been given an opportunity to contribute then. We are also allowing a full day's debate today.
: That is not correct. Adequate time has not been given to the debate.
: We are not on Committee Stage. The Minister has concluded.
: May I ask a question?
: Yes.
: The Chair should be patient and tolerant.
: The Chair resents that. The Chair looked deliberately at the Opposition and asked if the motion was agreed but there was no response. The Chair then called on Deputy Mac Giolla to speak and on the Minister to conclude. This is in accordance with procedure.
: Yesterday the Chair endeavoured to stop me asking a question because he did not know what question I was going to ask. Now because I was courteous——
: I anticipated the Deputy correctly.
: I endeavoured to behave courteously to Deputy Mac Giolla and let him make his point before I rose. I wish merely to ask the Minister of State a simple and technical question. There are four amendments before the House—one Fine Gael amendment and three amendments by The Workers' Party. Is it the position that we will not vote on any of those amendments until 6.30 p.m.?
(Dún Laoghaire): That is correct.
: I now know how we are going to conduct our business today. I am very grateful to the Chair for giving me the opportunity of finding out.
: For being patient and tolerant.
: I am putting the question: "That the allocation of time motion be agreed to".
: Will the Deputies please take their places? The question is that item No. 2, the allocation of time motion, be agreed to. On that question, a division has been challenged. Will the Deputies claiming a division please rise in their places?
The following Deputies rose in their places: Deputy Mac Giolla and Deputy De Rossa.
: As fewer than ten Deputies have risen in their places, I declare the question carried. The names of the Deputies who have risen in their places will be entered in the Journal of the Proceedings.
