I call Deputy Mattie McGrath, the rapporteur for the business committee this week, to announce the Order of Business for the week.
Order of Business
Today’s business shall be motions on the terms of reference of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, the Chair and membership of the Committee of Public Accounts, the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and draft Standing Orders, including the terms of reference of the Irish language committee.
Government business shall be the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (resumed), and the Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members’ business shall be Second Stage of the Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 by the Labour Party.
Tomorrow's Government business shall be the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Second Stage, to resume if not previously concluded; the Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad] - Second Stage, to resume if not previously concluded; the Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 - Second Stage (resumed); and a motion to instruct committee on the Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016. Private Members' business shall be a motion on NAMA by the Independents 4 Change.
Thursday’s Government business shall be the Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 - Second Stage, to resume if not previously concluded; a motion to instruct committee on the Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016; and Second Stage of Deputy Mick Wallace’s Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013, which will be taken in the afternoon slot.
I refer Members to the report of the business committee dated 23 June 2016. There are four proposals relating to today's business, three of which are motions to be taken without debate and any division demanded on those motions will be taken immediately. It is proposed to take:
(1) motion re Establishment of Joint Committee on the Good Friday Agreement;
(2) motion re Chair of Joint Committee on the Good Friday Agreement and Membership and Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts;
(3) motion re draft Standing Orders, including the terms of reference for the Irish Language Committee; and
(4) Second Stage of the Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016, which shall be brought to a conclusion, if not previously concluded, at 10 p.m. tonight.
There are two proposals relating to tomorrow's business. It is proposed that:
(1) the debate on the motion to instruct the committee re Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 shall conclude within one hour, if not previously concluded, the Minister and spokespersons will have five minutes each, all other Members will have five minutes each and all Members may share time; and
(2) the suspension of the sitting shall take place from 3.50 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
There are four proposals relating to Thursday's business. It is proposed that:
(1) the Dáil shall sit late and adjourn after the debate on Deputy Mick Wallace's Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013;
(2) Second Stage of the Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 shall take place immediately after Voting Time, to adjourn at 3.30 p.m., if not previously concluded;
(3) the debate on the motion to instruct the committee re Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016 shall conclude within one hour, if not previously concluded; and
(4) Question Time shall take place at 3.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of the motion re Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016, whichever is earlier.
There are, therefore, three proposals to put to the House today relating to the week's Order of Business. Are the proposals for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Are the proposals for dealing with business on Thursday agreed to?
I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for giving us all the details. Is it possible for us to have a debate on Thursday following the European Council? The issue is of such magnitude that we should not wait the ordinary length of time to come back on the issue. Is there any way the Taoiseach would consider engaging in debate in the House because of the urgency of the issue?
Absolutely. We will bring that to the business committee when it meets in the morning.
My question is on the same issue relating to Thursday. Could time be made available in respect of the obligatory report on the continuation or not of the FEMPI legislation? It is pertinent at this time.
We will bring both matters to the attention of the business committee in the morning. Is that agreed? Agreed.