Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Nov 2011

Vol. 746 No. 4

Order of Business

It is proposed to take No. 15, statements on the Report on Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016, to adjourn on the conclusion of questions and answers today; No. 12, motion re Tribunal of Inquiry into the Fatal Shootings of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan; No. 4, Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Remaining Stages; and No. 14, statements on the report by the interdepartmental working group on mortgage arrears (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 36, motion re mental health services (resumed), which shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 4, whichever is the later and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 15: the opening statements shall be made by a Minister or Minister of State and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; immediately following the opening statements a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 45 minutes; the statements 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 statement in reply, which shall not exceed five minutes; the proceedings in relation to No. 12 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be made by a Minister or Minister of State and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share time and shall not exceed five minutes in each case, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply, which shall not exceed five minutes; and Second and Remaining Stages of No. 4 shall be taken today and the following arrangements shall apply: the proceedings on Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. with the opening speech of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, not to exceed 15 minutes in each case and the speech of each other Member called upon shall not to 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 five minutes; and the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 30 minutes by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

There are four proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight, agreed to? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 15, statements on the Report on Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016, agreed to?

It is not agreed. We are extremely concerned that sufficient time is not being provided for a debate on the infrastructure and capital investment programme. We are surprised at the degree to which the Government has been resisting our calls for a wider, more expansive debate on these very important issues and on which many Members wish to contribute. A tendency and a pattern has been developing with regard to all the budgetary announcements. The fiscal plan was published outside the House as was this capital programme and the comprehensive spending review will be published outside the House. Despite all the talk of Dáil and parliamentary reform, nothing is changing in respect of these matters of such importance. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, signed that pledge and it was not just a case of a newspaper article. I would like to discuss this matter in the Dáil——

It is not allowed.

——under the comprehensive spending review which will be announced outside the Dáil. We want more time to discuss the capital programme and Members want more time and we do not want a guillotine.

We agree. We have raised this matter a number of times without any satisfactory commitment from the Government to have a proper debate on this issue.

I do not understand the objection. This item is not being guillotined today. The Opposition asked for a period of questions and answers to last approximately 45 minutes, as I understand, and this has been provided for today. The debate does not end today; it simply adjourns and it will be resumed at a future date.

Strong on questions or answers.

Members should read the Order Paper.

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with No. 15 be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 91; Níl, 41.

  • Bannon, James.
  • Barry, Tom.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Butler, Ray.
  • Buttimer, Jerry.
  • Byrne, Catherine.
  • Byrne, Eric.
  • Cannon, Ciarán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Coffey, Paudie.
  • Collins, Áine.
  • Conaghan, Michael.
  • Conlan, Seán.
  • Connaughton, Paul J.
  • Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
  • Costello, Joe.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Creighton, Lucinda.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donohoe, Paschal.
  • Dowds, Robert.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Feighan, Frank.
  • Ferris, Anne.
  • Fitzgerald, Frances.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Flanagan, Terence.
  • Gilmore, Eamon.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harrington, Noel.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Hayes, Brian.
  • Hayes, Tom.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Hogan, Phil.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Humphreys, Heather.
  • Humphreys, Kevin.
  • Keating, Derek.
  • Keaveney, Colm.
  • Kehoe, Paul.
  • Kelly, Alan.
  • Kenny, Seán.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lawlor, Anthony.
  • Lynch, Ciarán.
  • Lyons, John.
  • McCarthy, Michael.
  • McFadden, Nicky.
  • McGinley, Dinny.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • McLoughlin, Tony.
  • McNamara, Michael.
  • Maloney, Eamonn.
  • Mathews, Peter.
  • Mitchell, Olivia.
  • Mitchell O’Connor, Mary.
  • Mulherin, Michelle.
  • Murphy, Dara.
  • Murphy, Eoghan.
  • Nash, Gerald.
  • Nulty, Patrick.
  • Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
  • O’Donnell, Kieran.
  • O’Donovan, Patrick.
  • O’Mahony, John.
  • O’Reilly, Joe.
  • O’Sullivan, Jan.
  • Phelan, Ann.
  • Quinn, Ruairí.
  • Rabbitte, Pat.
  • Reilly, James.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Shatter, Alan.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Spring, Arthur.
  • Stagg, Emmet.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Tuffy, Joanna.
  • Varadkar, Leo.
  • Wall, Jack.
  • Walsh, Brian.
  • White, Alex.

Níl

  • Adams, Gerry.
  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Browne, John.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Colreavy, Michael.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Daly, Clare.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • Ferris, Martin.
  • Fleming, Tom.
  • Grealish, Noel.
  • Halligan, John.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Healy-Rae, Michael.
  • Kelleher, Billy.
  • Kitt, Michael P.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McGrath, Finian.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • McLellan, Sandra.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • Moynihan, Michael.
  • Murphy, Catherine.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • O’Brien, Jonathan.
  • O’Dea, Willie.
  • O’Sullivan, Maureen.
  • Pringle, Thomas.
  • Ross, Shane.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Troy, Robert.
  • Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Paul Kehoe; Níl, Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Michael Moynihan.
Question declared carried.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 12 agreed to?

It is not agreed. I call Deputy Boyd Barrett, on behalf of People before Profit.

Profit before people.

(Interruptions).

The remark is made only in regard to parties that have a right to speak. I am obliged to say that.

As I am sure the Tánaiste is aware, up to 40,000 students will take to the streets today.

No, no. We are talking about a tribunal of inquiry.

I ask the Tánaiste, out of respect for students who are concerned——

Deputy, resume your seat, please.

——about rumours that grants are to be cut and registration fees increased——

A Deputy

You are a bit late.

A Deputy

You missed it.

Resume your seat, please.

(Interruptions).

——if he will allow for statements today so that the Minister for Education and Skills can give clarification——

Deputy Boyd Barrett, please resume your seat.

I am asking about the schedule.

You can raise this on another occasion. Sit down.

(Interruptions).

On a point of order——

Resume your seat.

Will you explain it to me?

I will if you resume your seat. This is a particular proposal in regard to a matter on the Order of Business which is being put to the House for agreement on a time motion. The Deputy is trying to introduce an entirely different matter.

No, I am trying——

Excuse me, will you resume your seat? If you do not, you will be outside the gate.

(Interruptions).

Resume your seat. I warn you, Deputy. You will go.

I am trying to raise the matter of grants.

You can do it on the Order of Business. Resume your seat.

I suggest that——

You can do that on the Order of Business.

I am suggesting that this different matter be put on the schedule.

Resume your seat, please. Do you hear me?

I am asking a question.

Not about this topic.

Why not? That Deputy was allowed to question——

Resume your seat.

I do not understand.

I will explain it to you if you will sit down.

Thank you, Deputy.

Deputies, will you please read Standing Orders——

Deputies

Hear, hear.

——as they relate to the Order of Business?

Deputies

Hear, hear.

Following an alteration to Standing Orders, individual matters have to be put to the House for its approval. This is one of them. We are dealing with No. 12, motion re Tribunal of Inquiry into the Fatal Shootings of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan. We will deal with any other matters after we have dealt with this.

On a point of order——

What is your point of order?

The point of order is that I am opposing the proposal——

——and proposing an alternative.

What proposal are you opposing?

On what grounds?

I am suggesting that instead——

I am requesting that the Government instead allow for statements on the concerns of the students who are on the streets today.

No, this is purely a time motion

It is not a time motion.

It is a time motion.

The Tánaiste is going to sign the pledge.

Is the matter agreed?

Question put: "That the proposal for dealing with No. 12 be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 118; Níl, 13.

  • Adams, Gerry.
  • Bannon, James.
  • Barry, Tom.
  • Broughan, Thomas P.
  • Burton, Joan.
  • Butler, Ray.
  • Buttimer, Jerry.
  • Byrne, Catherine.
  • Byrne, Eric.
  • Calleary, Dara.
  • Cannon, Ciarán.
  • Carey, Joe.
  • Coffey, Paudie.
  • Collins, Áine.
  • Collins, Niall.
  • Colreavy, Michael.
  • Conaghan, Michael.
  • Conlan, Seán.
  • Connaughton, Paul J.
  • Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
  • Costello, Joe.
  • Coveney, Simon.
  • Cowen, Barry.
  • Creed, Michael.
  • Creighton, Lucinda.
  • Crowe, Seán.
  • Daly, Jim.
  • Deasy, John.
  • Deering, Pat.
  • Doherty, Pearse.
  • Doherty, Regina.
  • Donohoe, Paschal.
  • Dooley, Timmy.
  • Dowds, Robert.
  • Doyle, Andrew.
  • Durkan, Bernard J.
  • Ellis, Dessie.
  • English, Damien.
  • Farrell, Alan.
  • Feighan, Frank.
  • Ferris, Anne.
  • Ferris, Martin.
  • Fitzgerald, Frances.
  • Fitzpatrick, Peter.
  • Flanagan, Terence.
  • Gilmore, Eamon.
  • Grealish, Noel.
  • Griffin, Brendan.
  • Harrington, Noel.
  • Harris, Simon.
  • Hayes, Brian.
  • Hayes, Tom.
  • Heydon, Martin.
  • Hogan, Phil.
  • Howlin, Brendan.
  • Humphreys, Heather.
  • Humphreys, Kevin.
  • Keating, Derek.
  • Keaveney, Colm.
  • Kehoe, Paul.
  • Kelleher, Billy.
  • Kelly, Alan.
  • Kenny, Seán.
  • Kitt, Michael P.
  • Kyne, Seán.
  • Lawlor, Anthony.
  • Lynch, Ciarán.
  • Lyons, John.
  • McCarthy, Michael.
  • McConalogue, Charlie.
  • McDonald, Mary Lou.
  • McFadden, Nicky.
  • McGinley, Dinny.
  • McHugh, Joe.
  • McLellan, Sandra.
  • McLoughlin, Tony.
  • McNamara, Michael.
  • Maloney, Eamonn.
  • Martin, Micheál.
  • Mathews, Peter.
  • Mitchell, Olivia.
  • Mitchell O’Connor, Mary.
  • Mulherin, Michelle.
  • Murphy, Dara.
  • Murphy, Eoghan.
  • Nash, Gerald.
  • Neville, Dan.
  • Ó Cuív, Éamon.
  • Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
  • Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
  • Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
  • O’Brien, Jonathan.
  • O’Dea, Willie.
  • O’Donovan, Patrick.
  • O’Mahony, John.
  • O’Reilly, Joe.
  • O’Sullivan, Jan.
  • Phelan, Ann.
  • Phelan, John Paul.
  • Quinn, Ruairí.
  • Reilly, James.
  • Ring, Michael.
  • Ryan, Brendan.
  • Shatter, Alan.
  • Shortall, Róisín.
  • Smith, Brendan.
  • Spring, Arthur.
  • Stagg, Emmet.
  • Stanley, Brian.
  • Stanton, David.
  • Tóibín, Peadar.
  • Troy, Robert.
  • Tuffy, Joanna.
  • Twomey, Liam.
  • Varadkar, Leo.
  • Wall, Jack.
  • Walsh, Brian.
  • White, Alex.

Níl

  • Boyd Barrett, Richard.
  • Collins, Joan.
  • Daly, Clare.
  • Fleming, Tom.
  • Halligan, John.
  • Healy, Seamus.
  • Healy-Rae, Michael.
  • McGrath, Finian.
  • McGrath, Mattie.
  • O’Sullivan, Maureen.
  • Pringle, Thomas.
  • Ross, Shane.
  • Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Emmet Stagg and Paul Kehoe; Níl, Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Thomas Pringle.
Question declared carried.

The fourth proposal I have to put to the House is the proposal for dealing with No. 4, Order for Second Stage and Second and Remaining Stages of the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011. Is that proposal agreed? Agreed. As the time for the Order of Business has expired, we have to move on to the next item on the agenda.

On a point of order, we agreed with the Government amendment to Standing Orders, but it was never intended that the time taken for votes would count towards the 30 minutes allowed under Standing Orders. I ask the Government to examine that situation as a matter of urgency.

That is very sensible.

It is not acceptable that Taoiseach's questions are being taken just once a week and that the Order of Business is being curtailed if a vote is called on it, as is the legitimate right of parliamentarians.

I thank the Deputy.

If Dáil reform is to mean anything, at least 30 minutes should be allowed for the Order of Business.

It is a fair request.

I think it is a fair request.

The Deputy can make a request through his Whip at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

The Ceann Comhairle is as interested in this Parliament as anybody else. That is not what was intended and it should be changed immediately.

I am now moving on to the Private Members' Bill, Advertising——

A Cheann-Comhairle——

I have to get on with the business.

I had two issues I wanted to raise on the Order of Business.

I am sorry but the time has expired. I have no control over this.

It is entirely unacceptable.

Maybe so but I am only applying the rules as they stand. If the Committee on Procedure and Privileges wants to make a recommendation to the House for changes, so be it. I will apply the rules as they are laid down.

Do Standing Orders state that——

They state the time allowed for the complete order of business is half an hour.

Does that includes votes?

That includes votes.

Barr
Roinn