It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions, and No.10a, motion of confidence. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the adjournment of Private Members’ business which shall be No. 16, motion re cancer services. This shall be taken for 90 minutes on the conclusion of No. 10a and shall also take place tomorrow immediately after the Order of Business and shall be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes. No. 10 shall be decided without debate and, subject to the agreement of No. 10, the deadline for receipt of Priority and Oral Questions to the Minister for Education and Science shall be 11 a.m. on Thursday, 27 September 2007. The proceedings on No. 10a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 8.30 p.m. tonight and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches of the Taoiseach and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case; the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; Members may share time; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes.
Order of Business.
There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. agreed?
I know this is an unusual circumstance and that people have travelled from the mid-west to hear a debate on the Government motion, amended by Fine Gael and Labour, on Shannon services. Fine Gael was prepared to have that debate during Private Members' time and put off our own Private Members' time until some time in the future. If people have travelled and the debate will not be concluded in the manner envisaged I wish to make that point to the Chief Whip but I will not labour it.
Hear, hear.
We will allow Deputy Dooley to vote.
As Deputy Kenny said, a large number of people, who are concerned about their jobs, have travelled here to be in the Public Gallery. They should be accommodated if at all possible. They have come here to hear a debate on Shannon Airport. They expected the debate to take place today.
Those in the Public Gallery will be the first to state that the interest is not confined to their presence. The interest is universal and not confined to the mid-west. This is of importance to every citizen, not only in this State but on the island of Ireland. It cannot be about competing regional interests but about protecting and ensuring the provision of critical infrastructural needs. Air transport is one of those and the Shannon-Heathrow route is a critical national interest for the people of Ireland. Therefore, I support the proposal from Deputy Enda Kenny.
These are unusual circumstances but, through no fault of mine, a motion of confidence in me has been tabled. This must take priority and while these are important issues we will deal with the cancer debate tonight and Shannon airport tomorrow.
Fine Gael is willing to give up time.
Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 10, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 10a, motion of confidence, agreed to? Agreed.