Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call on the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, to formally move the motion.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders the following arrangements shall apply in regard to today's sitting. First, there shall be no Oral Questions, Private Notice Questions and Leaders' Questions and no Private Members' business. Matters may not be raised under the provisions of Standing Order 21, section 3 and Standing Order 32. Second, the Order of Business shall be taken now.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is that agreed?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of questions I could ask but perhaps I should not so I shall agree to the motion.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Tá go maith. I call Deputy Gilmore, very briefly.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As I understand from what the Government Chief Whip read out, it is proposed to have only the motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government taken today. Is that correct?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I do not intend to delay the proceedings but just wish to make the point that on the previous occasion when there was a motion of confidence in the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, on 26 September 2007, there was normal business on that day. There were Questions, Leaders' Questions and Adjournment matters so what is being proposed for today departs from that. This is the third sitting day in succession we have not had either ordinary Questions or Leaders' Questions. By tomorrow when we return to-----

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Whose fault is that?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, we need to move on.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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-----it will be two weeks since we have had Leaders' Questions and I merely want to draw attention to that.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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Briefly, an Teachta Ó Caoláin.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Before agreeing to the Order of Business, there are two items not signalled for address this week that require address by this House. The first is the publication today of the Saville report and all that it represents for families who have waited since 1972. I hope that the families' positions are vindicated by the text of that report. I ask the Taoiseach whether he will accommodate an opportunity this week to have statements in this House on the publication of the Saville report.

We have not yet addressed in this House the prenatal misdiagnoses of miscarriages. It is imperative that we address this very important issue that has affected many thousands of women across the State and not just those women who have come forward and who have had fortunate outcomes. Many thousands of women are going through a difficult and agonising period in their lives.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not appropriate for the Order of Business today. The Deputy will have ample opportunity to articulate that point later on.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that an opportunity is provided on the floor of the Dáil to address this very important issue.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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On a point of order, has any time been allocated to Independent Deputies to speak on this very important debate? If not, why not?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not have any detail of any accommodation yet, but as the day proceeds, I am sure these matters can be considered.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Here we go again. It is unacceptable that Members of the Oireachtas are not allowed to speak, especially when there is a long debate on a very important issue. It is undemocratic, unfair, unjust and out of date. We are all in here every day talking about Dáil reform, yet nothing ever happens.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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We have noted the points made.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Fine Gael Party put down a motion of no confidence in myself last Thursday, so we decided that we would clear the decks and deal with that. Everyone will understand that it is a prerogative of the Government to do that, given the serious nature of the motion that was put down.

The Saville report is being published today. It is a very important day for the families and for everyone who has had concerns on these matters. It is a very lengthy report and perhaps it might be best for people to read the report and consider it in the House next week. I would be anxious that the House would have statements on the issue.

The other matter raised by Deputy Ó Caoláin can be dealt with by the Minister for Health and Children and there is ongoing accountability to the House in respect of any of these health care issues. We considered that the confidence motion must be confronted head on.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Taoiseach's indication that he will accommodate an address of the matters arising from the Saville report in the coming week.