Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take No. 6 — Motion re. Leave to Introduce Supplementary Estimates [Votes 10, 13, 16, 26, 27, 29, 30, 39, 42 and 43], No. 7 — Motion re. Nomination of Member of the Government.

It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted not later than 9.30 p.m.; (2) No. 6 shall be decided without debate and any division thereon shall be taken forthwith; (3) the proceedings on No. 7, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 9.30 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) The speech of the Taoiseach, of the main spokespersons for the Fianna Fáil Party and the Progressive Democrats Party and of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; (ii) Members may share time and (iii) the Taoiseach shall be called upon not later than 9.20 p.m. tonight to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes provided that if the proceedings on No. 7 conclude earlier than the time stated, any division demanded thereon shall be postponed until 9.30 p.m. tonight; (4) there will be no Private Members' business today.

Is the proposal for the late sitting this evening satisfactory? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with No. 6 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal that there shall be no Private Members' Business today agreed? Agreed.

Last Thursday on the Order of Business I raised with the Tánaiste the possibility of providing time for a debate on Northern Ireland this week. I think he was favourable to the allocation of time for such a debate. Given that the Taoiseach's summit meeting with Mr. Major will take place next Monday, would it be possible to have a short debate on the North either tomorrow or Thursday?

I would like to participate in such a debate if possible. Questions on Northern Ireland have been tabled for reply tomorrow but there are considerable difficulties in providing time for a debate in view of my many EU-related commitments. For example, tomorrow morning I have a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel while on Thursday and Friday I have meetings with a number of European leaders. There are not enough hours in the week to allow me to participate in such a debate this week. I think there have been some discussions between the Whips on the matter. I would like to facilitate the House and perhaps Deputies can raise matters during Question Time tomorrow.

Did the Taoiseach say we could have a debate on Northern Ireland next week?

No, but I am not averse to the idea. The problem is that it would be virtually impossible for me to participate in such a debate either this week or next week because of the EU summit. Every day is taken up with European-related business arising directly from the Presidency and the meeting which I will chair. It is not possible for me to give a commitment in respect of such a debate next week but the matter might be discussed by the Whips. I will make my diary available to the Government Whip so that he can see if any time slots are available for this purpose. The House would expect me to participate in such a debate but there is a practical problem in my doing so in the circumstances of these two exceptional weeks.

I understand the Taoiseach's commitments between now and the summit and I do not wish to be difficult. However, it might be possible to provide time at the end of Question Time tomorrow for party leaders to make, say, ten minute contributions.

It may be possible to do so and I will consider the proposal.

It was stated last week that the Estimates would be finalised today by the Cabinet. Were the Estimates finalised and, if so, when will they be published?

They were finalised and will be published next Monday.

Top
Share