Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Before I invite Deputy Coppinger to comment, I must go through the preliminary matter of procedure. As this is a constitutional Bill we must take the Schedule first. I must read the following into the record before inviting contributions on the amendments, and then I shall invite the Minister of State to address the Bill. Is that in order, Minister of State? Yes.

Before Committee Stage commences, I would like to deal with a procedural matter relating to Bills to amend the Constitution. The substance of the debate on Committee Stage relates to the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment, which is contained in the Schedule to the Bill. The sections of the Bill are merely technical. Therefore, in accordance with long-standing practice, the sections are postponed until consideration of the Schedule has been completed. Postponement only means that the sequence changes. We normally take the sections first and the Schedule at the end but the procedure is reversed in this case.

I ask the Minister of State to formally move, in accordance with precedence in Standing Order 151, that consideration of sections 1 and 2 of the Bill be postponed until the Schedule shall have been disposed of.