Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Níl aon leithscéal faighte againn. No apologies have been received.

Is mian liom na riachtanais bhunreachtúla seo a leanas a mheabhrú do chomhaltaí. Agus páirt á glacadh acu i gcruinnithe poiblí, caithfidh comhaltaí a bheith i láthair go fisiciúil laistigh de theorannacha suímh Theach Laighean. Ní cheadóidh mé do comhaltaí páirt a ghlacadh i gcruinniú poiblí nuair nach bhfuil siad ag cloí leis an riachtanas bunreachtúil seo. Mar sin, má dhéanann aon chomhalta iarracht páirt a ghlacadh ó lasmuigh den suíomh, iarrfaidh mé orthu an cruinniú a fhágáil. Maidir leis seo, iarraim ar chomhaltaí a dheimhniú go bhfuil siad i láthair laistigh de phurláin Theach Laighean sula ndéanann siad aon ionchur sa chruinniú ar MS Teams.

Iarrtar ar chomhaltaí cleachtadh parlaiminte a urramú, nár chóir, más féidir, daoine nó eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainmneacha ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Chomh maith leis sin, fiafraítear díobh gan aon rud a rá a d’fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfadh a ráitis a bheith clúmhillteach do dhuine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordófar dóibh éirí as an ráiteas láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfidís leis an ordú sin láithreach.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Microsoft Teams that prior to making their contribution to the meeting that they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entities by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if members' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

We will now consider the Finance Bill 2025. I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, accompanied by his officials to the meeting here today. The Bill was referred to the select committee of Dáil Éireann on 21 October last. There are 91 amendments tabled for consideration and I wish to refer members to the groupings of amendments for the purposes of the debate.

Regarding the arrangements for the consideration of the Bill, I propose the meeting continue from now until approximately 12 p.m. and resume at 1:30 p.m., with a short break at 3 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. and a short break at 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. The meeting will finish no later than 10 p.m. this evening. The meeting will then resume its consideration of the Bill tomorrow, Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. in committee room 1, with a break between approximately 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. We will then continue the meeting at 2.30 p.m. in committee room 3. There will be a short break at 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and a short break at 7.30 p.m. to 7.45 p.m. The meeting will finish no later than 9 p.m. that evening.

If necessary, the meeting will resume its consideration of the Bill at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 November in committee room 3 until the Bill is completed. I understand the Minister is unavailable on the Wednesday. As people will be aware, we were due to have it on the Tuesday but due to the inauguration, that is not possible. The meeting will also be suspended for any Dáil votes. Does anyone have anybody have any questions? No. Is that agreed? Agreed.

In order to provide for the smooth running of the meeting, any member acting in substitution for a member of the committee should formally notify the clerk now, if they have not already done so. Divisions will be taken as they arise and a member attending this meeting in accordance with Standing Order 115(3) should be aware that pursuant to that Standing Order, he or she may move his or her amendment but cannot participate in voting on that amendment.