It is proposed to take Nos. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) business shall be interrupted at 12 midnight tonight; (2) the sitting shall be suspended at 6.30 p.m. for 30 minutes; (3) No. 5 shall be decided without debate; (4) the proceedings on No. 6 shall be brought to a conclusion within one hour and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the opening speech of the Minister, the main spokesperson for the Fine Gael Party, the Progressive Democrats Party and the Technical Group shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; (ii) the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed five minutes; and (iii) the Minister shall be called upon not less than five minutes before the debate is due to conclude to make a speech in reply; (5) the proceedings on the Committee and remaining Stages of No. 12, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment; (6) the proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 13, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 p.m. tonight; (7) the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of No. 14, if not previously concluded, shall be brought to a conclusion at 12 midnight by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry; and (8) Private Members' Business shall be No. 18 and the proceedings thereon shall be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tonight.
Order of Business.
Is the proposal that business shall be interrupted at 12 midnight tonight satisfactory? Agreed. Is it agreed that the sitting shall be suspended at 6.30 p.m. for 30 minutes? Agreed. Is it agreed that No. 5 shall be decided without debate? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 6 satisfactory? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12 satisfactory?
The proposal for dealing with No. 12 is acceptable but there is a difficulty in that a meeting of the Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy has been convened for the same time. This will cause a particular difficulty for Opposition spokespersons because they cannot be in two places at the one time. The Government has a Minister and a Minister of State who can divide the business between them but this does not apply to the Opposition.
The Government has two Ministers of State.
This business should be taken at a different time in the Dáil during the day or the Select Committee on Enterprise and Economic Strategy should meet at a different time. There should not be a clash.
I accept what Deputy Bruton has said. Perhaps the Whips and chairperson of the committee could meet to ensure both items do not clash as it is not possible for the Opposition to deal with both together.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12 satisfactory and agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 13 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 14 agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 18, Private Members' Business, satisfactory? Agreed.
I am sure the House would wish to avail of this opportunity to congratulate the Irish team on winning a place in the last 16 in the World Cup for the second time in succession. I congratulate the members of the team and its management on a magnificent success which has brought pride and joy to the hearts of everybody in all parts of Ireland and the extended Irish community around the globe. The Irish fans have proved to be outstanding ambassadors by enjoying themselves in a way that conveys enjoyment rather than offence to others and, in particular, for the way they mingled in an amicable fashion with fans of rival teams before and after matches. Those responsible for law enforcement in the United States have complimented the Irish fans on their behaviour.
The Deputy is embarrassing the Chair.
The Chair played well.
I feel like issuing a red card, but I hesitate to interrupt the Deputy.
I am merely giving you a very good pass in front of the goal which I have no doubt you will put into the net shortly. I am merely a feeder in this matter so far as the Chair is concerned.
The Deputy has done well, and so say all of us.
Thank you, for your indulgence. Obviously, a number of package tours will be organised for Irish fans to attend the remaining games. Will the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications ensure there is not a repeat of the Sportex saga where Cork fans arrived in the United States without the relevant tickets they thought they had secured on buying their tickets? I hope the Government, while celebrating this great occasion, takes the necessary steps to ensure that does not happen again.
Despite our sense of pride on the occasion, the matter must not tend towards debate.
At 8.30 p.m. last night I said we were all extremely proud of how well the Irish team had performed and of how Irish supporters behaved. They were a credit to Ireland in the last World Cup too. I know the House will be unanimous in congratulating the team and complimenting the supporters. However, we should not lose sight of the marvellous work done by our Embassies and consuls abroad in dealing with the problems that occurred on a day to day basis since the start of the World Cup. I have first hand knowledge of their work and I am sure the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will vouch for what I am saying. They have worked day and night to overcome many difficult problems and will continue to do so. The House should congratulate our Foreign Affairs' officials abroad on the magnificent job they are doing, which has been recognised by people who have encountered difficulties. We hope the Irish team will not return in the very near future.
I, too, concur with the sentiments expressed by Deputy Bruton and the Taoiseach. The Irish team are a credit to the country and, whatever about party differences, it was good that we were all united in watching the match yesterday evening. I compliment and thank Senator Magner for the way he organised for the staff of the House who were not working to be able to watch the match in the restaurant.
Some of us had to deal with other business.
As Deputy Bruton said, the Irish fans behaved in a most exemplary fashion and were complimented by the police authorities in New York and Orlando. I join with the Taoiseach in complimenting our diplomatic staff who work with very limited resources compared with other embassies to do an outstanding job for our country on all occasions. They have done so again on this occasion. The manager of the team, despite the fact that he was caged in, also did well. Whether on the sideline or in the cage he is more than capable of managing our team and making sure they perform as well as the best. I pay tribute to him.
Last week I asked the Taoiseach if he would follow the precedent set by his predecessor if we qualified into the next round. I do not know if the Taoiseach has had an opportunity to consider the matter, but I look forward to hearing from him when he has made up his mind.
I will give the Deputy a chance when I am going.
I need a holiday.
It would be churlish of me not to join with the other parties in the House in congratulating the Irish team and the supporters. I do not have the same technical knowledge of the game as the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht who performed well last night on television. It is important that we acknowledge not only the sacrifices made by our team and its manager but by our Ministers who sacrificed a great deal to be there to cheer on our team and who have now come back to the mundane affairs of the House. I am pleased that we have secured a place in the next round and I hope the team do even better.
The green team in the USA require a special mention from their green counterparts in Ireland. I compliment the team on an outstanding performance and hope they have continued success. I appeal to the various creditors here, whether in the private or credit union sector, to be lenient in their charges as many people will have to seek special terms with their financial teams at home.