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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 1

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and statements on Northern Ireland. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders that:

(1) Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall be decided without debate.

(2) The Dáil shall sit later than 5 p.m. today and business shall be interrupted not later than 6 p.m.

(3) Statements shall be made today on Northern Ireland and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the opening statements of the Taoiseach and of the main spokes-persons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party, the Progressive Democrat Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed 40 minutes in each case;

(ii) the statement of each other Member called on shall not exceed 30 minutes;

(iii) the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be called on a second time not later than 5.40 p.m. to make a statement in reply not exceeding 20 minutes.

(4) The Dáil shall sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. and adjourn not later than 4 p.m.

(5) Statements shall be made tomorrow on European Community affairs and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes; and

(ii) the Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon not later than 3.40 p.m. to make a speech in reply not exceeding 20 minutes.

Is the first proposal, that items Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 be decided without debate, satisfactory and agreed to? Agreed.

There is an amendment to one of those motions.

I observe that Deputy Bruton. Is the proposal for a late sitting today satisfactory and agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposed arrangements for dealing with statements on Northern Ireland today satisfactory and agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for tomorrow's sitting satisfactory and agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposals for statements on European Community affairs tomorrow agreed to?

In relation to that proposal, would it be possible to extend the scope of those statements to allow Members of the House to express views on the truly appalling events now occurring in Bosnia? People in Bosnia, in their anxiety to flee from the activities of the Serb besiegers, are being crushed to death as they are loaded on to cattle lorries, events reminiscent of Nazi terror at its worst during World War II. Could the House agree to the extension of the scope of tomorrow's statements to allow Members to speak on European affairs rather than on European Community affairs? I know that Members on all sides of the House are deeply concerned at the appalling atrocities that are occurring.

Is the Deputy seeking to extend both time and content?

There would be no need to extend the time provided. My proposal is to delete the word "Community" from the motion.

That proposal is acceptable. The Government has no objection to the deletion of the word "Community".

I take it, then, that the proposal is satisfactory and agreed to.

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