It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following business shall be transacted today: No. 3b, motion re establishment of select committee on arrangements for budgetary scrutiny, and No. 5a, statements on crime, and the following arrangements shall apply. No. 3b shall be taken without debate; the proceedings on No. 5a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. today and the following arrangements shall apply-----
Business of Dáil
Will the Minister of State speak up? We cannot hear.
In case he tries to slip in something.
It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following business shall be transacted today: No. 3b, motion re establishment of select committee on arrangements for budgetary scrutiny, and No. 5a, statements on crime, and the following arrangements shall apply. No. 3b shall be taken without debate; the proceedings on No. 5a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. today 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, the Labour Party, AAA-PBP, Independents 4 Change, Social Democrats, the Green Party, or a Member nominated in their stead, and a non-party Deputy, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 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 such Members may share their time; 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 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 May, 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.
There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 3b, without debate, agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 5a agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal regarding the adjournment of the Dáil today agreed to?
Yesterday, I raised the issue of statements on crime and Garda resourcing, and I am pleased to see that we are having those statements and that debate today. It is, however, very disappointing and inexplicable that mental health and statements on the Irish language got written out of the schedule. It does not make any sense to do that and then to ask the House to rise at 4.30 p.m. I put it to the would-be, acting or virtual Taoiseach that we should have statements on mental health today. I am unsure whether the schedule would allow for both mental health and Gaeilge, but certainly my intention in looking for important statements on crime, gangland and Garda resourcing should not have been used as a pretext to cancel statements on mental health or the Irish language.
I seek clarity from the Taoiseach because we woke up this morning to the news that we might be meeting tomorrow morning to debate the election of the Taoiseach and that the various talks with the Independents were, depending on who one listens to, coming to a rapid conclusion.
They are not here.
Deputy Mattie McGrath has just whispered to me that he would like some clarity on whether he will be needed for the weekend or whether he will get the weekend off.
A Deputy
He will flunk it. Deputy Martin need not worry.
In all seriousness and for the sake of Members, is there a possibility that the House could be meeting tomorrow, as we will vote today to adjourn until Tuesday? If there is not, that is fine and we have clarity on that. In essence, will it be Tuesday when we come back vis-à-vis the outcome of the negotiations and the election of a Taoiseach?
The question of a discussion on crime and gangland killings and so on is an issue that has affected everyone. Many people wanted to speak on that and that is why it is on today. Even more people wished to speak on mental health and a full day is scheduled for that next week. Obviously, we could divide up the time and do an hour today and whatever else, but the Whip informs me there are so many speakers wishing to speak on mental health that we should allocate a full day to that next week, and I think that is appropriate. The same could happen with the discussion on the Irish language, although not as many are offering to give their views on the language as on mental health.
I have to inform Deputy Martin that Deputy Mattie McGrath did a little whispering at the discussions.
I am hoarse, and I was not whispering either.
As those discussions drew to particular conclusions, sometimes it became a little more shrill. He made his case along with many others. A great deal of drafting was done last night in respect of the issues that were raised by the rural alliance and independent alliance Deputies. That document has been drafted and is currently being discussed.
To be straight up about it, I cannot say to Deputy Martin on the floor this morning that the matter will be concluded and agreed. There has been a couple of hours of discussion on the redrafted document, which includes all the issues, including the policy issues in respect of the agreement between our two parties, which are part of the programme for Government.
I know that once the Order of Business is outlined in the House, it has to be within the time of the sitting of the Dáil were there to be any change. Deputy Martin has asked a question on the matter.
If it arises during the course of the Dáil sitting today that agreement is reached and signed on a programme for a partnership for a fairer Ireland, I will inform the Ceann Comhairle immediately and examine whether we could proceed to have the vote tomorrow. I cannot confirm it now. I will keep the Ceann Comhairle and the party leaders updated on whether that is likely to become a possibility today.
Question put and declared carried.