Vol. 155 No. 10
I move:
That, with effect from 7 May 1998, until further notice in the 21st Seanad, Standing Order 54 in relation to division bells rung and time for locking of doors be amended by the substitution of "a further period of not less than six minutes" for "a further period of not less than four minutes".
Is this being done because of the new office accommodation?
Item 2 extends the time for the taking of divisions from eight minutes to ten minutes. This is to ensure that Senators who have moved offices will have sufficient time to reach the Chamber when a vote is called. We are amending the Standing Order to add an extra two minutes to the interval after the bells have rung. The bells will still ring for four minutes and the doors will be locked after a further six minutes.
The House will be aware of the plans for the new £25 million millennium building upon which work will start in June. All Senators, and the Leas-Chathaoirleach, at present in the College of Art, will have to move across the road to Setanta House with all the other Senators. In order to facilitate everyone arriving in time for votes, this is the proposal which was agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges at its meeting yesterday.
