Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 5

Allocation of Time: Motion.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. S. Brennan)

I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and the Resolution of the Dáil of 10 September 1997, the proceedings on No. 4 shall be brought to a conclusion at 3 p.m. today and the Tánaiste called at 2.30 p.m. to make a speech in reply; [whereupon] item No. 5 shall be moved and the following arrangements shall apply:

(i) For the purpose of debate, the amendments shall be taken in the following groups:

(a) Amendments Nos. 1, 14, 16, 17 and 20;

(b) Amendments Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15 and 21;

(c) Amendments Nos. 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 18;

(d) Amendments Nos. 12, 19 and 27;

(e) Amendments Nos. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 and 29;

with the consideration of groups (a) to (d) inclusive not to exceed 20 minutes in each case and of group (e) not to exceed ten minutes;

(ii) Members may speak only once not exceeding three minutes in the case of each group of amendments set out above; and

(iii) At 4.30 p.m. today, the questions on the amendments and motion item No. 5 shall be put forthwith and successively.

Caoimhghín ÓCaoláin

On a point of clarification, does the order before the House indicate that the debate is being guillotined or will I be afforded the opportunity to make my contribution?

An Ceann Comhairle

It indicates an agreement among the Whips. This matter was discussed briefly this morning on the Order of Business when it was suggested that the Whips would come to an agreement on it.

Caoimhghín ÓCaoláin

The position is that the Whips do not represent me in this Chamber nor do they represent the small body of Independent Members. We do not have access to those deliberations. I merely wish to have the same democratic right——

Mr. S. Brennan

Perhaps I can be helpful to the Member. Every Member of the House, including the Deputy, is entitled to intervene in the debate on each group of amendments between 3 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. The Deputy will be entitled to speak on each group for three minutes if he so wishes. The debate is not being guillotined. We are merely grouping the amendments for the purposes of debate, which was the unanimous request of the other main party Whips. We are merely grouping the amendments so that we can discuss each item. If we do not do that, a Member might use up the time debating one issue and we would not reach the other issues to be discussed. The Deputy may intervene on five occasions if he so wishes between 3 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Caoimhghín ÓCaoláin

I have already taken the opportunity to study the amendments carefully. I intended taking a broader approach in my contribution rather than dealing with the specifics of the individual amendments and hoped I would have been accommodated in that regard. I do not wish to hold up this part of the debate unduly but to refer me to a piecemeal approach to the amendments does not meet with the preparation I have put into what I propose to say. When 2.30 p.m. was mentioned it was obvious that time had passed. I seek the Chair's clarification and cooperation to allow me an opportunity to address this matter.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the new order agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Higgins

(Mayo): I seek the Chair's indulgence. Had I known in advance that the order was coming into effect now I would have brought my contribution to a conclusion. May I ask the Tánaiste's indulgence to allow me three minutes to conclude my contribution?

An Ceann Comhairle

With the agreement of the Tánaiste, the Deputy has three minutes to conclude.

Caoimhghín ÓCaoláin

May I also address the Chair in the same vein? Will the Tánaiste accommodate another Member of the House who wishes to contribute to this debate? I do not intend to make a protracted contribution and I would appreciate being accommodated in the same way as other Members.

An Ceann Comhairle

The new order of the House has been agreed and must be adhered to.

Mr. Gormley

It was agreed among the Whips that a Green Party member would contribute at 3 p.m. I cannot understand what is going on now.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy will have an opportunity to speak on the amendments.

Mr. S. Brennan

The Deputy may speak five times on the amendments.

Mr. Gormley

I thank the Chair.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Deputy Jim Higgins to bring his contribution to a close.