Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jul 1990

Vol. 126 No. 3

Allocation of Time: Motion.

Mr. Fallon

I move:

That the Seanad shall stand adjourned sine die at the conclusion of business on Thursday, 19th July, 1990, and, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, the following arrangements shall apply on Tuesday, 17th July, Wednesday, 18th July and Thursday, 19th July, 1990:

(1) The business to be taken on each of the said days shall be confined to the items set down in paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Resolution and, accordingly, no other business shall be taken unless the Seanad shall otherwise order on motion made by the Leader of the House or such other Senator as he may authorise in that behalf;

(2) The sittings shall be suspended (save as the Seanad may otherwise order) as follows:—

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.	said Wednesday and Thursday
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.	said Tuesday and Wednesday

(3) In the case of each of the items of business set out hereunder, where the proceedings thereon have not already concluded, such proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion at the time and on the day indicated by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only amendments set down by the Government or the Leader of the House: provided that if a division or claim therefor is in progress at the time indicated the question shall be put as soon as possible thereafter:—

Tuesday, 17th July, 1990	Proceedings to conclude by:
Pensions Bill, 1990	11.45 p.m.
Wednesday, 18th July, 1990
Broadcasting Bill, 1990	11.45 p.m.
Thursday, 19th July, 1990
Report of Committee of Selection (if any)	10.45 a.m.
Insurance Bill, 1990	3.45 p.m.;

(4) The debate on the motion on Farming Incomes and on the amendment proposed thereto shall be resumed

(a) not later than 10.15 p.m. on the said Tuesday if the proceedings on the Pensions Bill, 1990, have concluded by that hour, in which case the Question or Questions necessary to bring the proceedings on the motion and on the amendment to a conclusion shall be put from the Chair forthwith and successively not later than 11.45 p.m. on that day, or

(b) not later than 6.30 p.m. on the said Wednesday, in which case the Question or Questions necessary to bring the proceedings thereon to a conclusion shall be put from the Chair forthwith and successively not later than 8 p.m. on that day;

(5) Standing Orders 28 and 29 shall stand suspended."

Mr. Wright

I formally second that.

Mr. O'Toole

On a point of order, and this is a strict point of order, I am not going to refer to the motion, Standing Order 123 states:

(1) Any Standing Order or Orders of the Seanad may be suspended for the day's sitting, and for a particular purpose, upon motion made after notice.

I believe this legislation will be challenged on the basis that we are acting ultra vires——

An Cathaoirleach

I have to rule you out of order, Senator.

Mr. O'Toole

I would like to have that matter put to the House.

Question put: "That the motion be agreed to."

The Seanad divided: Tá, 29; Níl, 16.

Tá

• Bennett, Olga.
• Bohan, Eddie.
• Byrne, Hugh.
• Byrne, Sean.
• Cassidy, Donie.
• Conroy, Richard.
• Dardis, John.
• Fallon, Sean.
• Farrell, Willie.
• Finneran, Michael.
• Fitzgerald, Tom.
• Foley, Denis.
• Hanafin, Des.
• Haughey, Seán F.
• Hussey, Thomas.
• Keogh, Helen.
• Kiely, Dan.
• Kiely, Rory.
• Lanigan, Michael.
• Lydon, Don.
• McGowan, Paddy.
• McKenna, Tony.
• Mooney, Paschal.
• Mullooly, Brian.
• O'Brien, Francis.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• O'Donovan, Denis A.
• O'Keeffe, Batt.
• Wright, G.V.

Níl

• Cosgrave, Liam.
• Costello, Joe.
• Doyle, Avril.
• Harte, John.
• Howard, Michael.
• Jackman, Mary.
• McDonald, Charlie.
• McMahon, Larry.
• Manning, Maurice.
• Naughten, Liam.
• Neville, Daniel.
• Norris, David.
• O'Reilly, Joe.
• O'Toole, Joe.
• Ryan, John.
• Upton, Pat.

Tellers: Tá, Senators Wright and Fitzgerald; Níl, Senators Howard and O'Toole.

Question declared carried.

An Cathaoirleach

Just before I call item No. 3 — the Pensions Bill — in deference to Senator O'Toole I want to point out that it is the practice, if the allocation of time motions are passed, that all proceedings in accordance with them are in order as it is a direction of the House. That is the situation here; it is a direction of the House and, in deference to the question he posed, I wanted to respond to him.

Mr. O'Toole

Thank you very much but I still think the House is subject to its own rules.