It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following business shall be transacted today: No. 3a, motion re presentation and circulation of Revised Estimate 2016, and subject to the agreement of No. 3a, motion re Revised Estimate for Public Services [Vote 4]; and No. 7, statements on the EU migration and refugee crisis. The proceedings in relation to No. 3a shall be taken without debate and any division demanded thereon or on the motion re Revised Estimate for Public Services [Vote 4] shall be taken forthwith and, subject to the agreement of No. 3a, the proceedings in relation to the Revised Estimate shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 12.30 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour, AAA-PBP, Independents 4 Change, the Social Democrats, the Green Party or a Member nominated in their stead and a non-party Deputy, shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; and such Members may share their time; the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed five minutes in each case; 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. 7 shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn at 4 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour, AAA-PBP, Independents 4 Change, Social Democrats, the Green Party or a Member nominated in their stead and a non-party Deputy, shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; and such Members may share their time; the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until Wednesday, 4 May, 2016 at 10.30 a.m., when there shall be no Order of Business within the meaning of Standing Order 28, and accordingly, the only business to be transacted shall be, by order, agreed on that day.
Business of Dáil
Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3a, motion re presentation and circulation of Revised Estimate 2016, without debate, and 3b, motion re Revised Estimate for Public Services [Vote 4], agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 7 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal that the Dáil, on its rising today, shall adjourn until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 4 May 2016, agreed to?
It is not agreed to. Yesterday, I raised the motion I had lodged with the Ceann Comhairle's office in respect of the spate of killings, particularly in Dublin, not least in my constituency during recent months. Yesterday, I got the sense that there was agreement in the Chamber that it was a matter of national importance and some urgency. It does not feature on today's business, which might be just a matter of timing. As the Ceann Comhairle advised, our Whip raised the matter at the Whips' meeting. The list of proposed subjects for next week includes agriculture, climate change, mental health and the Irish language, which are all very important topics. However, I strongly argue that a discussion around community safety and the resourcing of the Garda Síochána is critical and, whatever about it not being taken today, I cannot understand how we propose to go through another week's business without addressing the issue.
This is the topic people are talking about the length and breadth of Dublin and beyond. There is an expectation among the people I represent that the experience they are having on the ground, the fear in which they are living and their vulnerability be taken seriously and that these matters be debated here by all Dáil Members. The proposal is that the Dáil adjourn until Wednesday. I do not know why. I suggest the Dáil sit on Tuesday and I would like to think that, by then, we would be able to have the debate I have outlined to get some answers from the Minister for Justice and Equality as to why communities and the Garda Síochána have been left in a vulnerable situation and with inadequate resources.
There is no indication as to whether there will be a vote to elect a Taoiseach. Again, given that we are nine weeks on from the election, we need an indication as to whether it will unfold next week. Those we represent expect, on the back of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael hammering out some arrangement, that there would be a vote to elect a Taoiseach. Why is it not signalled for next week?
The issue Deputy McDonald raised is important. It was raised this morning at the Whips' meeting. I expect that there can be a decent and serious debate on crime issues, facilities, resources, activities and gangland murders. It is very important. Gangland crime has terrorised a number of sectors in different parts of the country. It can take place on Wednesday or Thursday. As Deputy Micheál Martin can confirm, discussions are ongoing between the two major parties about the parameters of an agreement. They have not yet been concluded. In the event that they are concluded, members of the independent groupings have made it clear that they would not offer any support without seeing such an agreement. I cannot say more. I am very cognisant of what the Deputy said about trying to bring the matter to a successful conclusion as speedily as possible.