Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his appointment. I hope he will have easier days and harder days than what he is having today.

As we have agreed motions 5aand 5bI wish to turn to motion 5c. We are proposing that we return to this House on 22 March for fewer than six hours to discuss three items. On the timing of the items, on the first issue, statements on the European Council meeting, 20 minutes will be available to every other Deputy, apart from the main spokespersons. On the second issue, statements on Council of the Agricultural Ministers meeting, 35 minutes will be available for the rest of the Deputies, apart from the main spokespersons from each of the groups . On the third issue, that of housing, which we all agree is so serious that even the Taoiseach and Deputy Martin said in their contributions that we cannot put these issues on hold, we cannot have a debate on housing and homelessness for only two hours and think that it will satisfy people who are about to lose their homes, or people who are sleeping on the streets tonight or people who are in emergency accommodation. A two-hour debate is an insult to those people. We have had many debates on housing and homelessness and I have no problem with having another debate on those issues but every Deputy who wants to make a contribution on these important issues should be allowed do so. What is being proposed in this motion is a two-hour debate, which allows only 35 minutes for every other Deputy, apart from the main spokespersons for each grouping. That is not satisfactory. That would mean that 21 Sinn Féin Party Members would be unable to speak on housing or homelessness.

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