I call on the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt.
Business of Dáil: Motion.
I move:
That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Dáil shall sit later than 4.45 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of No. 5 and the Dáil shall adjourn forthwith; the proceedings on the nomination of the Taoiseach shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4.30 p.m. and the House shall suspend immediately thereafter until 6.30 p.m.; and that all divisions demanded in the House today shall be taken manually.
Is that agreed? It is not agreed.
I take this opportunity to wish the Ceann Comhairle well in his position. However, all Members must recognise that this proposition, which is time-limited to 4.30 p.m., allows a mere 40 minutes to address the appointment of Taoiseach. Several Members of all opinion in this House will wish to address this important issue. I ask the Chief Whip and Deputy Bertie Ahern, as leader of the Fianna Fáil Party, to accommodate an increased period to allow for a full debate to take place for all parties and all opinions in the House to have the opportunity to have their say. This is critically important, as we have been returned from our respective constituencies and have the right to have our opinions heard. The decision we are about to take is one of the most important in terms of determining the future of the political make-up of the 30th Dáil and the delivery therefrom.
Accordingly, I make the request through the Ceann Comhairle to the Chief Whip and the outgoing Taoiseach to indicate acceptance of the proposal to extend the time appropriately in order to allow a proper debate of the propositions that may present.
Question put and declared carried.