It is intended that we take Item No. 1 and that the Tánaiste will reply to the debate at 2.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Item No. 1 and the Tánaiste to conclude the debate.
On the Order of Business and as we are coming to the end of this session, would it be possible for you, a Chathaoirligh, to organise that Members of the House could inspect work in progress in our Chamber before the end of the session?
Yes. We have a meeting, Senator Manning, at 11.30 a.m. I was going to talk it through then with Senator Manning and the other Members and we will be doing it.
I am just a little bit confused. I am wondering precisely what this means. Is the Tánaiste coming in at a specific time? I would like to arrange my professional commitments during the day to be able to make some contribution to the debate. I am wondering how I can now do that. Could I have some assistance in this matter?
There may be a slight lack of communication; the fault may be on our side, but this was slightly sprung on us. Are we going to limit speeches or could we have some indication from the Leader of the House as to how many speakers he has left and how many Opposition speakers? I think a disproportionate number of Independents want to speak, so we may have a small problem here but not a major one.
I said that 2.30 p.m. was the time the Tánaiste would reply to the debate. I do not know how many speakers there are: I have no list of speakers but the Cathaoirleach may have such a list. I would just ask that speakers confine themselves to relevant matters and that they do not repeat what has been said already. In that way I would suggest that Senators who wish to speak will have an opportunity of doing so.
Order of Business agreed to.