There is a division in the other House and it is proposed to suspend business for ten minutes.
Business of Seanad.
It is now 5.25 p.m. Can the House not adjourn for a tea break until 6.30 p.m.?
If a Member wants to propose a tea break I will take the proposal.
I certainly will propose one as I have to come back to the House again for the Social Welfare (Appeals Tribunals) Bill, 1986.
I second that.
What are the views of the Government side? Is it agreed?
Agreed.
Yes, I shall be available at 6.30 p.m. until 7 p.m. and I am due to speak in the Dáil at 7.10 p.m. I shall be available again at 8 p.m.
After the Private Members' Bill, is the House moving on to the Control of Clinical Trials Bill at 8 p.m. and until what time?
Yes, from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. if necessary.
I presume that the House will not be taking the Control of Clinical Trials Bill tomorrow morning.
I cannot say whether it will or not. The Minister will be back in the House at 8 p.m. this evening and we will take one step at a time. In the meantime somebody may see the Leader of the House and find out what his intention is. Is that agreed?
This situation is unsatisfactory.
Was the Senator present for the Order of Business?
No. I was outside.
Can we have a rescinding motion on this? There might be something to be said for continuing after a ten minute break. Speaking in a personal capacity I have to be back at base for a call at midday.
Is it agreed that we suspend the sitting until 5.45 p.m.? Agreed.
It is the intention that the Minister will sit right through the Bill, go for 15 minutes to a vote in the Dáil and then resume here at 5.45 p.m. and continue on until he goes to the Dáil at 7 p.m.?
This is not a matter for the Chair.
I propose that we suspend sitting until 6.30 p.m. We must be reasonable.
The Minister will not need to be present here at 6.30 p.m. as the Private Members' Bill will be taken at 6.30 p.m. so he will just have to come back for another three-quarters of an hour. I am reluctant to let Senator Robb go——
The Minister had better go to the other House at this stage.
I am reluctant not to use Senator Robb's time as he is, after all the one who has medical qualifications.
The question is: do we go away until 6.30 p.m. or do we come back at 5.45 p.m. to allow Senator Robb to be present?
I would be happy to be here at 5.45 p.m. but I understand the difficulties.
The Minister has been here since 2.30 p.m. Does he have to keep going without a break? I am in the hands of the House.
Sitting suspended at 5.30 p.m. and resumed at 6.30 p.m.