Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 5 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 3

Business of Dáil: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. J. Higgins)

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: (1) the Dáil, on its rising on Friday, 5 July, 1996, shall adjourn until 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, 25 July, 1996; (2) the Dáil, on its rising on Thursday, 25 July, 1996, shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 September, 1996; (3) the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sitting of the Dáil on 25 July: (i) business shall be interrupted not later than 8.30 p.m.; (ii) the sitting shall be suspended between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.; (iii) there shall not be oral questions or Private Members' business with the exception that written questions addressed to the Taoiseach and to other members of the Government shall be taken; (iv) matters may not be raised under the provisions of Standing Order 30; and (v) the procedures relating to raising matters on the adjournment under Standing Order 20 shall apply, except that the Ceann Comhairle shall advise the Dáil of the matters in respect of which notice has been given and those selected under Standing Order 20 (4) at the interruption of business."

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, may be discussed together.

Mr. D. Ahern

I move the following amendments:

1. To add the following to paragraph (1):

"and Questions for written answer shall be taken on every Tuesday and every Wednesday during the plenary recess."

2. To add the following to paragraph (2):

"and Questions for written answer shall be taken on every Tuesday and every Wednesday during the plenary recess save during the month of August."

3. To add the following to paragraph (3) (iii):

"provided further that the Taoiseach will intervene on matters of topical concern and questions thereon shall be confined to the Leaders of the Parties or Groups (or his or her nominee) within the meaning of Standing Order 90 and shall not exceed 15 minutes in the aggregate immediately on the conclusion of the Order of Business."

Given that the Order of Business has gone on until 11.45 a.m. perhaps the Taoiseach is beginning to regret he did not accept amendment No. 3. I tabled that amendment because of the disorder on the Order of Business over the years. We tried to address this matter, but the Taoiseach was not willing to do so.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

This matter was to be taken without debate.

Mr. Barrett

The Deputy is out of order.

Mr. D. Ahern

It will work out better for this side of the House that the Taoiseach does not accept this amendment because this is the way it will be when we return after the recess.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The question is, "That amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, are hereby negatived and that the motion is hereby agreed to."

Question put and declared carried.