Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 18, Statements on European Council, Brussels; No. 19, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2007 — Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 20, Carbon Fund Bill 2006 — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight, and business shall be interrupted not later than 10.30 p.m.; and the suspension of sitting pursuant to Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 18, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m.; (2) the proceedings on No. 18 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 80 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) 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 and who may share their time, which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) immediately following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; (3) the Report and Final Stages of No. 19 shall be taken today, and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. tonight by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, regarding amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs; (4) the Report and Final Stages of No. 20 shall be taken tonight, and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 10.30 p.m. by one question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall regarding amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; (5) Private Members' Business, No. 67, motion re education, school places and class sizes (resumed), shall be taken at 7 p.m. tonight, or on the conclusion of No. 19, whichever is the later, and shall be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes.

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