Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The business for Thursday is not agreed by the Labour Party, nor was it agreed at the meeting of the Business Committee, as indicated by Deputy Clare Daly. As the Ceann Comhairle knows, there was wholesale opposition to it. The Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill is being dealt with in the Seanad only today and there are over 30 amendments. It is to come back to us on Thursday. Even if the Bill is passed in the Seanad this evening, the Bills Office will struggle to have the legislation printed and available for us tomorrow. It is a very important Bill and the Minister has indicated he intends to replace some decisions made previously here in the Dáil.

Standing Orders 194 and 195 deal with amendments made in the Seanad to Bills that originated in the Dáil. A Bill must be returned to the Dáil for limited Committee discussion. The Seanad amendments may be agreed to or amended. In order for the Dáil to decide whether to accept or amend any of the amendments made in the Seanad, it must have sight of the printed amended Bill. That will not be available until late on Wednesday. The normal time limit for amendments to amendments is two days. If this arises on Wednesday, it is open to the Ceann Comhairle to suspend that but if it is the case and there is no urgency — there is no urgency — it is inadequate and wrong in principle to provide for less than two days between two important Stages of this very important Bill. Therefore, I agree with others that this business should be put off until we return after the recess.

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