Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 2004

Vol. 588 No. 2

Allocation of Time: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Ms Hanafin)

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the Order of the Dáil of this day:

(1) The Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and the business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of No. 15

and

(2) The proceedings on No. 15 shall be taken immediately on the conclusion of No. 25, and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the speech of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, 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 reply which shall not exceed five minutes.

Mr. Gilmore

Since the Minister of State is proposing a change in the Order of Business for the House, will she propose an extension of the time available to debate the National Monuments Bill, particularly in view of the disgraceful abuse of the time of the House by the Minister, who spoke for half an hour in a debate which is scheduled for one hour? His contribution was an exercise in filibustering and an attempt to talk out the time available in case any of us would say anything he did not want to hear.

Mr. Cullen

The Opposition levelled a number of accusations and I responded.

Mr. Gilmore

In view of that abuse, will the Minister of State propose an extension of the time?

Ms Hanafin

I appreciate the Deputies want more time to discuss every Bill before the House. Unfortunately, another Bill backs onto this one and it too is on Report and Final Stages. We are under pressure of time coming up to the end of term and, unfortunately, I cannot give more time to this particular Bill.

Question put and agreed to.