Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jun 1987

Vol. 116 No. 7

Business of Seanad.

Mr. Lanigan

It has been decided by the Whips that those who have offered to speak should be allowed a limited time to speak tomorrow. Tomorrow we will discuss the ACOT Bill until 12.30 p.m. From 12.30 p.m. until 2 p.m. we will take a motion which, in my opinion, is non controversial on the closure of the Hyster plant. It is controversial in one sense but it is not politically controversial. I suggest that we break from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the debate will continue at 3 p.m. giving everybody an opportunity to speak for a maximum of 15 minutes each and that the proposers of the motion will conclude at the end of the debate tomorrow.

As a matter of principle in future if we have a three hour motion I will insist that it be limited to three hours because I think I have given this House — purely because of the importance of the matter — an amount of latitude which I do not think we should have allowed. I gave an extra hour and a half to this motion and certain people who did not go to their Whips and get in early are now cribbing about the fact that they are not getting in. Senators should not expect in the future that I will allow Independent Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael motions to drift on as this motion has drifted. There are other ways in which we can address the business of the House. Again, I thank the proposers for moving the motion and I sincerely hope we can get away from the contention which arose at the end of the debate, a debate which was extended far beyond what was intended.

Mr. McCormack

I thank the Leader of the House and the Whips.

Mr. Ferris

I could not agree to the arrangement for tomorrow afternoon simply because at the time the debate will be taking place — and I wanted to speak on the motion — I will be in another part of this House with a deputation to a Minister. This is another part of the role of a Senator. I will be doing my public duty. In the spirit of what the Leader of the House said, I was prepared to confine myself to five minutes to allow the debate to conclude in time. That agreement was reached with Senator Ryan and myself. We have not tried to extend beyond the period agreed. The time chosen and agreed by a majority does not suit me but I have to accept a majority decision. We are a lesser group in the House now and I have to accept majority decisions. Agreement was reached but not with my consent. I mentioned to the other people that the time chosen to conclude the motion did not suit me. I am on the record as saying I wanted to speak and was prepared to limit myself to five minutes but was not allowed to do so.

Mr. B. Ryan

Very briefly, I am sure it was inadvertent but, in case Senator Ferris gave the impression that I agreed with him, as it happens tomorrow afternoon does not suit me, but I did not think it was my business to make a big fuss about it. I am glad somebody agreed to extend the debate. I actually agree with the Leader of the House that extending the time of a debate by 50 per cent and then extending everybody's time to speak by 50 per cent means no extra speakers are allowed to speak. Let us go ahead and finish the business. I have a view about this House which is quite different from many people. I think it can be quite useful if people only make use of it.

An Cathaoirleach

We have agreement that this debate is now adjourned until tomorrow at 3 o'clock.

Mr. Manning

I place on record my appreciation to the Leader of the House for making the extra time available. There has been such interest in this debate that we might look, as a matter of urgency, at whether the hour and a half each week for debates of this type is adequate. I believe it is not. Perhaps as a matter of urgency you might look at that.

An Cathaoirleach

Before calling the Adjournment Matter raised by Senator Brendan Ryan, I want to say as Cathaoirleach, we cannot allow a recurrence of what happened here this evening. It happened on another item within the past fortnight. This cannot be allowed to continue if we are to run the business of the House properly. As a Senator of ten years standing I say with the greatest respect to everybody, new and old Senators, that about half way through a debate somebody gets a fresh wind and decides he wants to contribute. At an earlier stage we are asking Senators to contribute. We must get back to the hours. If we have a three hour debate that is what it should be. I am genuinely sorry that Senator Ferris did not get his five minutes. By agreement the debate is adjourned until 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. We move now to the Adjournment Matter. When is it proposed to sit again?

Mr. Lanigan

It is proposed to sit at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 11 June 1987. The first business is the ACOT Bill.

An Cathaoirleach

In order that we will not have more confusion we are into an hour and a half's debate at the request of Senator Brendan Ryan. The Senator may take half an hour. Perhaps other Senators would keep to a quarter of an hour so that we will not have more confusion. An tAire has to be included and Senator Ryan will wind up the debate.