Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 12, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the internal agreement concerning the tenth European Development Fund; No. 13, Finance Bill 2007 — Financial Resolutions; No. 18, Finance Bill 2007 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. a4, Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)(Amendment) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage and Second and Subsequent Stages, to be taken at 6 p.m. tonight and the order shall not resume thereafter.

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 not later than 11.30 p.m.; Nos. 12 and 13 shall be decided without debate and, in the case of No. 13, Financial Resolutions Nos. 1 and 2 shall be moved together and decided by one question which shall be put from the Chair; the Second and Subsequent Stages of No. a4 shall be taken today and the following arrangements shall apply: the proceedings on Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 10 p.m.; the speeches of a Minister or Minister of State and 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 20 minutes in each case; the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case; Members may share time; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 11.30 p.m. tonight by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Private Members' business shall be No. a61, motion re rail freight, on the Supplementary Order Paper.

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