I understand agreement has been reached between the Whips for an extension of the sitting of the House until such time as all sections of the Finance Bill have been taken.
Committee on Finance. - Motion for Late Sitting.
And all stages.
All sections and all stages of the Finance Bill have been taken and it has been agreed that all stages of the Bill be taken not later than 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Acting Chairman
Is that agreed?
Is this a motion that we sit all night?
If necessary.
I certainly would not object to that in the slightest degree but I would submit to the Minister and to the front bench Fianna Fáil Party that I see nothing wrong with next week and the week after. I think the whole thing is daft, crazy and nuts, to put it in a nutshell.
Nuts are always in a nutshell.
I understand there was some suggestion in connection with this extension that, if there was some outstanding business, it might be taken for half an hour at midnight. I do not know if that was mentioned.
I am glad Deputy Colley drew my attention to that. I do not know whether there is any business outstanding but there was a suggestion we would have an SOS at midnight. Is it 30 minutes?
I think 30 minutes would be appropriate at that stage.
Acting Chairman
Is the motion agreed?
I strenuously object to being rushed precipitately into this scheme designed to conclude this debate at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. We have seen this game played before and we have seen what the outcome was. We are here this evening at 8 p.m. talking about continuing until we finish or not later than 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. This is madness. We are talking about taxation on a hard-pressed community. I oppose the whole idea of a motion at this time. There is nothing wrong with using tomorrow or the day after, or next week or the week after or the week after that, to do this business in a proper way and at a proper pace rather than with the haste with which we seem to find it essential to finish this business. This is the most important business of the year. From a taxation point of view this is the most important business we have discussed for many years.
As far as I personally am concerned I would prefer to deal with this matter next week or, indeed, after the recess. The Minister has convinced me that this is not feasible and we must finish it before we go into recess. One is faced with more problems than one's own personal position. As I said, I have no objection personally to dealing with this subject next week, but there are many people other than members of this House who are involved in any such arrangements we make, including members of the staff of this House. My understanding is that, taking all these factors into account, the most satisfactory way of dealing with this is the way which has been agreed between the Whips. While it is unsatisfactory that we should sit through the night, nevertheless I am confident we will be able to give the Bill reasonably adequate examination, but not perhaps as adequate as we would wish. The Bill arrived quite late this year but there is nothing we could do about that. In the circumstances with which we are faced it would seem that the proposal agreed between the Whips is the best way out of this dilemma, not necessarily the ideal way but the best way open to us.
Acting Chairman
Is the motion agreed?
I do not agree.
Acting Chairman
I am putting the question: "That the Dáil sit until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, with a break of 30 minutes at 12 midnight."
May I suggest that we insert the words "until we finish or not later than 9 a.m. tomorrow morning."
On a point of order, what time must this motion have been moved, and passed or rejected, under existing Standing Orders?
Acting Chairman
8.30 p.m. I am putting the question: "That the Dáil sit until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning with a 30 minute break at 12 midnight tonight——
With respect might I suggest that we add "that the House agrees that all Stages of the Finance Bill be taken before 9 a.m."
Acting Chairman
——and that all Stages of the Finance Bill be taken before 9 a.m." Is that agreed?
Should the motion have been moved at 8 o'clock or 8.30 p.m.?
Acting Chairman
At 8.30 under Standing Order 20.
I want to say something——
Acting Chairman
I have put the motion.
Question put and agreed to.