Dáil debates

Thursday, 25 October 2007

Orders of Reference of Committees: Motion

 

11:00 am

Photo of Tom KittTom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

that the Orders of Reference of the following Select Committees be amended in paragraph (1)(a) by the deletion of '11 members' and the substitution therefor of '13 members':

Select Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs;

Select Committee on Health and Children;

Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 1:

To insert betweeen lines 6 and 7—

"Select Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that the Orders of Reference of the following Select Committees be amended in paragraph (1)(a) by the deletion of '11 members' and the substitution therefor of '15 members':

I submitted an amendment and I regret that the Journal Office has produced and arranged for the circulation of an inaccurate text this morning. I gave the Ceann Comhairle the correct text of the amendment and have received a message from the Journal Office that it accepts it made a mistake. The document that has landed on Members' desks can be ignored.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I remind the Deputy that he has already spoken on the issue. I also remind him that the amendment was submitted very late. It is being allowed as a concession. As we have already had a discussion on it this morning we cannot have a discussion on it now. Under Standing Orders the Deputy is entitled to move and read the amendment. I will then put the amendment.

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is worth a good long discussion.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle must appreciate that we did not see the motion until this morning. The amendment was tabled in time and I am not here to look for concessions or sweets from anybody's trolley, only for fair play and justice.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not here to give sweets. I am merely here to implement Standing Orders.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The net effect of my amendment would be that the motion would have the introductory paragraph extending the membership from 11 to 13 of two committees, namely the Select Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and the Select Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and that the like paragraph would extend the membership from 11 to 15 in the Select Committee on Health and Children and the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. I understand and appreciate the Government in accommodating any extension of access to these committees would want the reciprocal appointment of a Member from the Government benches in order to ensure the Government's advantage in numerical terms. I am asking that the amendment be accepted. I am asking for those parties that have negotiated to secure the arrangement in their own interest that they would also——

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am obliged to put the question. I cannot have a debate on it.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking for full support.

Amendment put.

Deputies:

Vótáil.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputies claiming a division please rise?

Deputies Martin Ferris, Arthur Morgan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Aengus Ó Snodaigh rose.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As fewer than ten Members have risen, I declare the amendment lost. In accordance with Standing Order 68, the names of the Deputies dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.

Amendment declared lost.

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I must now advise the House that the second circulated text of the amendment is also wrong. Will the Ceann Comhairle confirm that the correct text will be recorded in the Official Report?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The amendment, as circulated, is the subject of an administrative error and the record of the House will be amended in accordance with the Deputy's wishes.

Question put: "That the motion be agreed to."

Deputies:

Vótáil.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputies claiming a division please rise?

Deputies Martin Ferris, Arthur Morgan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Aengus Ó Snodaigh rose.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As fewer than ten Members have risen I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 68 the names of the Deputies dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.

Question declared carried.