Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 12a, Motion re Referral to Joint Committee of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996; No. 26 – Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill, 2002 – Second Stage (resumed); No. 12b– Budget Statements, and the Financial Motions by the Minister for Finance [2002] shall be taken on the conclusion of Questions to Members of the Government.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and the motion for the General Financial Resolution shall be moved not later than 12 midnight whereupon business shall then be interrupted and the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith; (2) No. 12a shall be decided without debate; (3) following the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the proceedings on No. 12b: (i) the statements shall be confined to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, and shall not exceed 45 minutes in each case. The spokespersons for the Technical Group shall be confined to a spokesperson for the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Independents and shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) following the statements the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes; (4) all divisions demanded on No. 12b shall be taken manually.

Private Members' Business shall be No. 37 Motion re Community Employment Schemes (resumed) – to be taken at 12 noon and to conclude after 90 minutes.

An Ceann Comhairle

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for the late sitting agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

No. I wish to object at this point.

The Taoiseach

We are sitting until midnight. We do not want to be any later than that.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I want to explain what I want to raise at this juncture.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy may make a brief comment if he wishes.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

The Order of Business today is extremely important. What we have witnessed over the past 24 hours has been a very dishonest effort on the part of senior members of the Cabinet who seek to disinform the community. One example of this is a statement issued yesterday by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin—

An Ceann Comhairle

That does not arise in terms of the late sitting. Is the Deputy opposed to the late sitting.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I will have to accept we will sit late.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the Deputy opposing the Order of Business?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I am opposing the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is he opposing the late sitting?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I will have to choose some mechanism in which to register—

An Ceann Comhairle

He is opposed to the late sitting.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I wish to explain.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with the late sitting be agreed to", put and declared carried.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12a without debate agreed? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12b agreed?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

No, I repeat that the statement by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, claiming that there has been a significant reduction in patient waiting lists in hospitals is a complete misrepresentation of the facts. If that is—