Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is proposed to take No. 16, statements on the European Council, Brussels; No. 14, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad] — Second Stage (resumed); No. 15, Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad] — Order for Report and Report and Final Stages; and No. 3, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 16 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements 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 shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 16, whichever is the later, until 2.30 p.m.; and in the event that a division is in progress at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business, the Dáil shall sit later than 8.30 p.m. tonight and business shall be interrupted on the conclusion of Private Members' time which shall be taken for 90 minutes tonight and Standing Order 117(3) shall not apply.

Private Members' business shall be No. 52, motion re social welfare and consumer debt (resumed), which is to conclude at 8.30 p.m. tonight, if not previously concluded.

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