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JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 2007

Business of Joint Committee.

As we are running late on time, I suggest we discuss a motion that could be agreed and sent from the committee to the Ministers for Education and Science and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Is it agreed we discuss the motions before us? Agreed.

On a point of order, is the Chairman strictly adhering to Standing Orders in the way he has operated this meeting?

This is an emergency meeting. I have been advised by the clerk that I have a certain degree of discretion. I have followed everything to the letter so far. Does the Deputy have an issue with a particular aspect?

We have been here two hours and had the princely time of 55 seconds to speak.

That is at the discretion of the Chairman. It is also with the understanding of members. If we want to achieve a solution within the timeframe rather than being turfed out and having to come back at the end of January which would not reflect well on members, we will all have to be accommodating. I have been accommodating as Chairman. Members from both sides of the House have been given the opportunity to speak and have had to be curtailed in the interests of fairness and balance. I notice Opposition Deputies in agreement.

I understand two motions were to come before us. We will take the Opposition motion first but I ask that both motions be read out in advance before being officially put. I also want to clarify that should a vote be called and one motion fall, the second can be voted on immediately without the bells ringing again.

In that context, I will allow the proposer of the Opposition motion to speak on his motion for one minute. As there was no agreement to go into private session and come up with a joint motion, I will afford the proposer and seconder of the Government motion the opportunity to discuss their motion. Thereafter the joint committee will take the Opposition motion and will vote on it in the event of a division.

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