It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 13, 14 and 15. Private Members' Business will be No. 53. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. today and the hour at which business is to be interrupted shall be 12 midnight. The proceedings on item 4, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 6 p.m. and the Taoiseach shall be called on to conclude not later than 5.45 p.m. In relation to No. 14, the proceedings on the Second, Committee and Fourth and Fifth Stages, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only amendments set down by the Minister for Transport. Questions to Ministers shall not be taken on Thursday of this week.
Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach reconsider that last sentence where he said questions to Minister shall not be taken on Thursday of this week. This is one of the few occasions available to Deputies to question Ministers. In the interest of Deputies I would ask the Taoiseach to restore that hour. I am sure there are other ways in which the appropriate hour could be made available to Deputies. I ask him to restore Question Time on Thursday. This would be the last Question Time before the recess. It is rather high-handed to remove it from the agenda.
The decision was made at the request of the principal opposition party.
Are the arrangements for sitting this week and for questions agreed to?
Agreed.