Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business today shall be as follows: No. 14, European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003 — Second Stage (resumed) and No. 14a, statements on the Third Interim Report of the Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse, to be taken on the adjournment of Private Members' Business. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of No. 14a. The proceedings on the resumed Second Stage of No. 14 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7.30 p.m. Private Members' business, which shall be No. 32, motion re care of the elderly, shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. and shall adjourn at 9 p.m. The proceedings on No. 14a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 80 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes, and the statement of the Minister for Education and Science and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case. Members may share time. Immediately following the statements, the Minister for Education and Science shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes.

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