I move:
That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend section 10 of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995, as substituted by section 1 of the Courts Act, 1996.
Courts Bill, 2002: First Stage.
Is the Bill opposed?
Question put and agreed to.
Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time. I call on Deputy Howlin to move that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time.
If the Government does not offer to deal with all Stages of the Bill – which is designed to provide for the appointment of additional judges to the Flood tribunal and in respect of which there is consensus in the House – on its own time, we will move it in our own Private Members' time. I invite the Government to accept this simple two section Bill to provide additional judges to the tribunal, as requested by that tribunal, on a date earlier than that laid aside for Labour's next Private Members' time.
Is the Deputy moving that the Bill be taken in Private Members' time?
I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."
Question put and agreed to.
If the Government agrees to take the Bill on its own time, I presume the motion we have just agreed will not preclude it from doing so.
The Deputy is correct. As matters stand, it is agreed that the Bill will be taken in Private Members' time.