Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 6, statements on the European Council; No. 2, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007 — Order for Committee, Committee and Remaining Stages; and No. 3, Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007 — Order for Second Stage, Second and Subsequent Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m., business shall be interrupted not later than 9.30 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. 6, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m.; the proceedings on No. 6 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 80 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: first, 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, Labour Party and Sinn Féin, who shall be called upon in that order, who may share their time, and which shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; and second, immediately following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; Committee and Remaining Stages of No. 2 shall be taken today and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 5.45 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in regard to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance; Second and Subsequent Stages of No. 3 shall be taken today and the following arrangements shall apply: first, the proceedings on Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m.; second, the speeches of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party and Labour Party, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; third, the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case and Members may share time; fourth, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and fifth, the proceedings on Committee and Remaining Stages shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9.30 p.m. by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in regard to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. Private Members' business shall be No. 7, resumed motion on co-location hospital plans, to conclude at 8.30 p.m.

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