Order of Business

The Tánaiste

It is proposed to take No. 7a, motion re membership of committees; No. 7b, motion re statement of Estimates for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission; No. 7c, motion re Standing Orders 125 and 129; No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Commission of Investigation (Ronan MacLochlainn) Order 2014, back from committee; and No. 24, statements on the interdepartmental report on the commission of investigation into the mother and baby homes.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the Topical Issue debate; (2) Nos. 7a, 7b, 7c and 8 shall be decided without debate; (3) the proceedings relating to No. 24 shall be taken not later than 4 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after two hours today and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time; and (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes, and the Topical Issue debate shall be taken thereafter; and (4) the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 September, 2014.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 7a, 7b, 7c and 8 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 24 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal that the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 17 September, 2014 agreed to?

Deputy Gerry Adams

It is not agreed.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

Careful, Gerry.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

Perhaps he wants a longer break.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Chuir Sinn Féin leasú síos ar an gclár. Táimid ag lorg díospóireachta maidin amárach faoin ngéarchéim i nGaza. Mar is eol don Teach, tá rudaí ag éirí níos measa ansin. Sinn Féin has proposed a formal amendment to the Order of Business and we have put it to the Ceann Comhairle. We will propose to the Government Whip that we set aside four hours tomorrow morning to debate the Middle East and particularly the onslaught on Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip. It is important that we pay attention to what is happening there and with due deference discuss these matters.

There should be an end to all acts of aggression, whether from Gaza or from Israel into Gaza. We welcome the sos declared but there are still many issues. As I heard the Tánaiste indicate earlier, we are in a prime position because of our peace process to make a stand and send a very clear message to people in that region, particularly the citizens and families of those who have been killed. I ask for a debate on that tomorrow morning.

An Ceann Comhairle

Before proceeding to other Deputies' contributions, I advise the House that an amendment cannot be made on the Order of Business which will clearly introduce a new matter. That would be contrary to Standing Order 26. It is a matter for the Government, through the Tánaiste, to alter business if it so wishes.

Deputy Charles Flanagan

He knows that anyway.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Our whip contacted the Chief Whip last evening. The Government can set time aside. It is not such a big issue for us. The Dáil does not have to adjourn. We can meet here tomorrow morning for four hours and send a very clear signal from this Parliament and from the people of this State, of this island, that we want to chur stad leis an slad.

An Ceann Comhairle

I can only apply the rules of the House. I can do no more.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

I wish to support that proposal and object to the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy can object to the Order of Business.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

We should seek agreement from the Government for a debate tomorrow morning. The Tánaiste’s response this morning was weak on the actions the Government will take to engage with Israel, and the Israeli ambassador.

This is a sensible proposal. I ask the Tánaiste to agree to that. It is not a big request but this is a massive concern around the world and on the streets of Ireland as people watch what is happening in the Gaza strip and hear the stories of the experiences of the people of Gaza. Given the season we are in the Tánaiste should agree to this very sensible proposal this morning.

Deputy Joe Higgins

I too agree with the objection to the conclusion of the Dáil today on the basis that the atrocities in Gaza absolutely must be discussed.

I also oppose the adjournment while the housing crisis causes ever more suffering in this country. At 4.30 yesterday afternoon three thugs arrived at the home of a vulnerable mother and family in Castleknock-----

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy knows that he cannot discuss individual cases.

Deputy Joe Higgins

-----ripped out their front door and took it away on the orders of their landlord.

An Ceann Comhairle

I appreciate that this is a very serious issue but the Deputy cannot raise it on the Order of Business.

Deputy Joe Higgins

The family had been renting the place for eight years.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should resume his seat.

Deputy Joe Higgins

I am saying briefly, as I am entitled to under Standing Orders, why I oppose the adjournment of the Dáil.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is fine but the Deputy should not extend that into individual cases.

Deputy Joe Higgins

It is brief. The Tánaiste must hear this. Three hours later those thugs returned and only that my colleague, Deputy Coppinger, was on the scene they would have physically ejected that family with violence. Four and a half hours later the gardaí had not arrived because there is only one car in Blanchardstown.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

Deputy Higgins’s microphone is off.

Deputy Joe Higgins

The Tánaiste is the Minister for Social Protection. She represents this constituency. Is she satisfied that landlords can act like this in this day and age and that the gardaí have no resources to respond to people in such a vulnerable situation?

An Ceann Comhairle

We are not dealing with individual problems on the Order of Business. It is as simple as that.

Deputy Mattie McGrath

The Government should stand by the people.

The Tánaiste

The proposal to extend the Dáil sitting is not acceptable. I suggest to those who are understandably and properly very interested in what is happening, and the continuation of the violence in Gaza, that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade can be convened tomorrow. There can be a detailed discussion with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

(Interruptions).

Deputy Timmy Dooley

That is waffle.

The Tánaiste

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will be available-----

Deputy Mattie McGrath

Bring back Deputy Gilmore.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

It is a matter of making a statement.

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

That is just symbolism.

Deputy Finian McGrath

Bring back Deputy Costello. He would not have let this happen.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

It is appalling.

The Tánaiste

If the Deputies are interested in making peace the best way to do so is to have a serious, detailed conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. People like Deputy McConalogue will be welcome to attend and to discuss the matters in detail.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

Will the Tánaiste be there?

The Tánaiste

The proposal is for the Dáil to rise tomorrow. May I advise Deputies that the number of sitting days has been significantly increased since the change of Government?

Deputy Timmy Dooley

That matters to Gaza.

The Tánaiste

A comparison of sitting days between this Government’s first three years and four months in office when the Dáil sat for 425 days, with the first three years and four months in office of the Fianna Fáil-led Government, shows that the Dáil sat then for 313 days, a full 100 days fewer.