It is proposed to order the items on the Order Paper as follows: first, to discuss Item No. 1, then to discuss Nos. 3 and 4 together since they both deal essentially with the question of tourism and also to order No. 2 if time is available. It is proposed that there should be a suspension of the sitting between 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. or at the time most convenient to the debate around that time. We can follow the usual practice that no new business should be taken after 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
I agree with the Order of Business for today. Would the Leader of the House give us an indication as to what days we will be sitting next week and the Order of Business for next week?
May I again today, on the Order of Business, raise with you, Sir, the position as to what is happening upstairs? I am more convinced than I was last week that nothing whatsoever is happening up there. We are arriving at the stage where a House of the Oireachtas is being treated with contempt.
I would like to support that — and rarely I support Senator Howard. I could see the shock on Minister Noonan's face when he came into this Chamber yesterday evening. I think he thought for a second it was a new prison that he had not sanctioned.
I have taken the matter up with the Board of Works and I expect to have a report some time today.
The ceiling is what we want. They can keep the report.
I could answer that but I will refrain from it.
In answer to the question by the Leader of the Opposition, it is proposed to sit next week on Wednesday and Thursday, and to sit at 10.30 a.m. on each of those days. It is proposed to take Item No. 5 on today's Order Paper. The proposition will be that on Wednesday we should commence the debate at 10.30 a.m., that we should sit through without suspension of business until 10 p.m. and then resume the debate at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday. Naturally, on such an important matter there are already indications that a large number of Senators intend to speak. I think it should be possible, if we do adopt those sitting hours, that all Senators who wish to speak would be able to do so by a reasonable time on Thursday evening so that the matter could be dealt with on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
Will there be a time limit on speakers on that motion?
This has been a matter for discussion. At the moment we are in the course of drafting a motion which could be the basis for an agreement. My own recommendation to the representatives of the other groups is that each contribution should be limited to 30 minutes.
Order of Business agreed to.