Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. a12, motion re Spent Convictions Bill 2007; No. 25, statements on European Council, Brussels; No. 12 motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate [Vote 31] and, subject to the agreement of No. 12, to take Supplementary Estimate [Vote 31]; No. 4, Appropriation Bill 2008 — Order for Second Stage and Second and Remaining Stages; No. 24, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 — Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stages; and No. 37, Spent Convictions Bill 2007 — Second Stage [subject to the agreement of No. a12]. 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 on the conclusion of No. 61 — motion re housing (resumed), which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 24, whichever is the later; (2) No. a12 shall be decided without debate; (3) the proceedings on No. 25 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 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; (ii) immediately following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; (4) the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 25, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m.; (5) No. 12 shall be decided without debate and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith, and subject to the agreement of No. 12, Supplementary Estimate [Vote 31] shall be moved and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 65 minutes, and any division demanded thereon shall be taken forthwith, and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be confined to a Minister or Minister of State and to the main spokespersons for the Fine Gael Party, the 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; a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; (6) No. 4 shall be taken today and Second and Remaining Stages shall be decided without debate 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 Minister for Finance; and (7) the proceedings on the Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stages of No. 24 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. 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 Minister for Finance.

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