Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If I might just say at the start of the Order of Business, I would like the House to know that I have informed the Opposition leaders, Deputy Martin and Deputy Adams, that I intend to make an announcement later today, along with the Tánaiste, on the appointment of Mr. Tom Arnold to chair the constitutional convention.

It is proposed to take No. 18, statements on European Council, Brussels; No. 19, statements on the economy; and No. 13, motion re Tribunal of Inquiry into the Fatal Shootings of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan, to be taken at 7.05 p.m. tonight.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that (1) the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn not later than 10 p.m.; and the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 23(1) shall take place at 1.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of the opening statements of No. 19, whichever is the later, until 2.30 pm; (2) the proceedings on No. 18 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply; (i) the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach and by the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, and shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) a Minister or Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; (3) the following arrangements shall apply to No. 19: (i) the opening statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; (ii) the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes; and such Members may share their time; (iii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes; (4) the proceedings on No. 13 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: (i) the speech of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, and who may share their time, shall not exceed five minutes in each case; (ii) a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; (5) Private Members’ business, which shall be No. 69 – motion re statutory sick pay (resumed) shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 13, whichever is the later and shall be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes.

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