Vol. 152 No. 6
I move an amendment to the Order of Business:
That the proceedings on item 2 resume after the conclusion of item 6, motion 4; that business be interrupted for 20 minutes at the conclusion of Committee Stage of item 2; and that the proceedings on Report and Fifth Stages of item 2 conclude today.
Is that agreed?
No; it was agreed on the Order of Business that this Bill would be taken until 6 p.m. and that order stands. If the Leader wishes, we will take remaining Stages tomorrow but we do not agree to continuing after 8 p.m.
I would like to facilitate the Leader, and there is little left to do with this Bill, but most of the final amendments are in the names of our Members. We would have difficulty in changing the schedule agreed on the Order of Business.
It is disappointing that the Leader is asking us to change the business of the House at this late stage. I am not saying he wants to cut people's contributions short, but the House has always proceeded on the basis of consultation, and there has been no consultation on this matter. Senator Taylor-Quinn has suggested that we could meet on Thursday or Friday to deal with the Bill; it is unfair to Members if we proceed along these lines.
If Members wish to sit on Friday I have no objection, but, having consulted with many Members on this matter and in view of the great interest shown in this Bill, I am prepared to stay until 2 a.m. I understood we were very advanced on Committee Stage, and Senator Seán Ryan has indicated that there were some matters he wanted to discuss. Senator Taylor-Quinn has one amendment, for which I allowed a generous 30 minutes. The Minister has spent two full days in the Seanad, which shows his commitment to and concern for this Bill. I do not mind coming back on Friday; I am flexible in this regard.
The Leader has suggested dealing with this matter on Friday. I have no difficulty with that.
Is it agreed that the Seanad meet at 10.30 a.m on Friday, 24 October, to deal with this Bill? Agreed.
