Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

The Order of Business today shall be No.26, motion re Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their member states and the Republic of Croatia; No. 27, motion re Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their member states and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; No. 28, motion re Agreement on Trade, Development and Co-operation between the European Community and its member states and the Republic of South Africa; No. 57, statements re former Minister of State issue; No. 29, motion re terms of reference for Abbeylara tribunal; and No. 7, Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2002 – Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted not later than 11.00 p.m.; Nos. 26, 27 and 28 shall be decided without debate; the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the proceedings on No. 57 and the statements shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply – the statements of a Minister or Minister of State, the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party and of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and Members may share time and immediately following the statements, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform shall take questions for a period not exceeding 30 minutes; the proceedings on No. 29, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply – the speech of a Minister or Minister of State, the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party and of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, Members may share time and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; the Second Stage of No. 7, shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 11 p.m. tonight; Private Members' Business which shall be No. 127, motion re street violence shall also take place tomorrow immediately after the Order of Business and shall be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; and the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. tomorrow and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of Question Time which shall be taken at 6.15 p.m. or immediately following the conclusion of the Communications Regulation Bill, 2002 [Seanad], whichever is the earlier, for 75 minutes; and in the event of a Private Notice Question being allowed, it shall be taken after 45 minutes of Question Time for 30 minutes; and the order shall not resume thereafter.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

There are seven proposals to be put to the House. Is the late sitting agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 26 to 28, inclusive, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 57, statements re former Minister of State issue, agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 29 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed?

Mr. Quinn

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am not sure if you are aware of the details of this matter, but your office issued recommendations in relation to deadlines for the receipt of amendments to legislation tabled by the Government. It is simply impossible for us to respond to your request and comply with your guidance with regard to how we do our business in this House because the Bill in question, the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2002, was circulated this morning without an explanatory memorandum. In addition, I understand that as we speak the much trumpeted agreement from those parts of civic society directly affected by the provisions of the Bill has not been forthcoming. Therefore, to attempt to complete all Stages tonight would be unacceptable and contrary to your recommended parliamentary procedures. In view of the fact that we have next week to deal with the Bill, I suggest that the Taoiseach considers making time available for it then in order to give us time to table the amendments that would be needed.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

On the Deputy's question on amendments, the deadlines will not be rigidly enforced as the Bill was only circulated this morning.

The Taoiseach

In relation to the other matters, I am aware of and apologise for the short period in which the Bill was circulated. This was because discussions were ongoing. I spoke to the Minister for Health and Children a short time ago when he informed me that the issue which had been delaying agreement has now been resolved. The Bill will proceed to the conclusion of Second Stage only tonight, at which point perhaps it could be re-examined. I understand the Minister is still anxious to take Committee and Remaining Stages tomorrow as intended. I propose we conclude Second Stage tonight.

Mr. Quinn

I thank the Taoiseach for that clarification because, as stated in an earlier notice, we were originally going to take all Stages. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he has been informed by the Minister for Health and Children that the organisations and persons directly affected by the legislation will reach or already have reached agreement?

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Order of Business.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002