Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not take any names yet. I want Deputies to listen carefully. Before we begin Leaders' Questions, I remind Members of the time limits for this item set out in Standing Order 29. As the Members are well aware, the Standing Order allows three minutes for the initial question and response and one minute for each supplementary question and response. As I stated on the previous occasion, the clocks are strategically located.

There was quite a bit of criticism at the meeting of the Business Committee on Thursday last, which I chaired. I have a responsibility to enforce these limits. I ask those who are posing the questions to please respect the time limits because those representing the various groups of all shades in the Business Committee were quite critical. I ask Members to bear that in mind.

Before we come to the Order of Business, I remind other speakers that I will try to ensure that we deal with it as set out in Standing Orders so that we do not have Second Stage speeches or questions about constituency matters. I call on Deputy Micheál Martin. I am quite sure he will lead by example. Members should remember that in the past it was two minutes and a minute and it was extended then to provide additional time.

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