Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 23, statements on the European Council in Brussels and No. 4, Finance Bill 2007 — Second Stage, resumed. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of Private Members' business, which shall be No. 71, motion re health service reform, resumed, which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 4, whichever is the later; the suspension of the sitting under Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 23, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m.; the proceedings on No. 23 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 shall be confined to the Taoiseach and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, who may share their time, and which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; immediately following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; the proceedings on resumed Second Stage of No. 4 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m..

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