Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

In relation to the issue raised by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald under Standing Order 35(3), my preference was to attend committee to set out the case for the Supplementary Estimates for Votes 2 and 6 and I had set aside time to do so last Thursday. I regret that this did not prove possible, in particular because there was a precedent for the Government Chief Whip presenting previous requirements for Supplementary Estimates for Votes in the Vote group of the Department of the Taoiseach. That would have happened back as far as 2004 when the then Chief Whip Mary Hanafin attended, in 2022 when the then Chief Whip Deputy Jack Chambers attended and in 2023 when the then Chief Whip Deputy Hildegarde Naughton attended. This is a time-sensitive issue that we will vote on on 3 December 2025.

In relation to the issues raised on the occupied territories Bill, the housing plan, Uisce Éireann and the second amendment raised under Standing Order 35(3), relating to the changes to immigration, these can be discussed at Thursday's meeting of the Business Committee. I will also discuss the matter with the Minister, who I have no doubt will come to the Dáil to discuss any changes that are being made. The Order of Business stands.

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