Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 9a, motion re Northern Ireland; and No. 3, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. 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 Private Members' business which shall be No. 49, motion re unemployment (resumed), which shall be taken for 90 minutes at 7 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 3, whichever is the later; (2) the proceedings in relation to No. 9a shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 55 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the speeches shall be confined to the Taoiseach and to the leaders of the Fine Gael Party, the Labour Party, the Green Party and Sinn Féin, or a Member nominated in his stead, who may share their time, which shall not exceed ten 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; (3) the proceedings on the Second Stage of No. 3 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. tonight.

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