Vol. 362 No. 6
Dún Laoghaire): By agreement and notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, Members will be called in Private Members' Time this evening as follows:
7-7.10 p.m. a Fianna Fáil speaker:7.10- 7.22 p.m., a Government speaker;7.22- 7.27 p.m. a Government speaker;7.27- 7.40 p.m. a Government speaker;7.40- 7.55 p.m., a Fianna Fáil speaker;7.55- 8.10 p.m., a Fianna Fáil speaker;8.10- 8.15 p.m., a Government speaker;8.15- 8.30 p.m. a Fianna Fáil speaker.
Is that agreed?
We had a motion down in this regard some time ago and we put it in as an amendment to the Fianna Fáil motion. I would ask for some time to speak on it, even five minutes.
I am putting the question that the list of speakers as proposed by the Minister of State be agreed.
Is it not the function of the Ceann Comhairle to allocate the time in a debate and when a Deputy rises to speak to decide whether or not time will be allowed?
That is right, unless that discretion is taken from him by the House in a formal manner.
Do I understand the discretion is now taken from the Ceann Comhairle?
I am putting the question in a formal way: "That the timescale for time for Private Members' Business this evening as read out by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach be agreed to."
