Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 16, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012 - Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages; and No. 17, statements on the Government's proposals for water services delivery reforms. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Oral Questions, Topical Issues shall be considered on the adjournment of No. 17 or at 3.42 p.m., whichever is the later, and Oral Questions shall take place on the conclusion of Topical Issues; the proceedings on Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages of No. 16 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 3.42 p.m. today by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Social Protection; the proceedings on No. 17 shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after two hours and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case, the statements of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes, Members may share time and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m. tonight agreed to?

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No. Proposal No. 1 deals with the Dáil sitting later than 5.45 p.m. as Oral Questions and the Topical Issue debate are to commence after 3.42 p.m., which is the time that the Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill are to conclude. I object to that time of 3.42 p.m. in proposal No. 1 in regard to the guillotine on the Social Welfare Bill. Yesterday morning we were presented with 23 pages of amendments.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I apologise for interrupting the Deputy.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will clarify it for you, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is all right because I was wondering whether I had read it out correctly.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No, the Tánaiste read it out.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are sitting later than 5.45 p.m.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will read out the motion before us that the Tánaiste read out.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, the motion that is before the House at the moment is that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m. today.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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And shall adjourn at the conclusion-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy-----

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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May I read motion No. 1 from the sheet?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. The motion is that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m. It does not mention the Adjournment.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste read out a different motion from what you-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. I am reading out the motion I am putting to the House.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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What is this motion here that states: "the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m. tonight-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not a motion.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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-----and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Oral Questions; Topical Issues shall be considered on the adjournment of No. 17 or at 3.42 p.m. whichever is the later, and Oral Questions shall take place on the conclusion of Topical Issues"? That is motion No. 1. Is that motion No. 1 or not?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. The proposal before the House is that-----

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is not what the Ceann Comhairle read out.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The proposal is that we sit later than 5.45 p.m. What happens after 5.45 p.m. is a different issue. We need to agree to sit after 5.45 p.m. first. That is the proposal in case there is any misunderstanding among Deputies.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is caught like a rabbit in the headlights.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I ask for clarification. The Ceann Comhairle might assist me, as it is my first time here in this role.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy should be talking about motion No. 2.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Tánaiste read out motion No. 1, which contained that sentence. Is that not the motion?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. My job in the Chair is to get agreement that we sit later than the normal time on a Thursday, which is 5.45 p.m. The proposal is that in order to complete the business today we need to sit beyond 5.45 p.m.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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It will be 5.45 p.m. soon if we keep going.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Put him before Micheál for lessons.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What happens in between is not an issue for this proposal.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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All I am asking for is clarification. Is the motion for the late sitting that the Tánaiste read out before us or is a different motion before us?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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When I get to the second proposal I will then put a question about the proposal-----

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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When Deputy Sean Fleming is removed, who will take over next?

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are a lot of former Labour Party leaders.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy-----

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am looking at the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and the Tánaiste.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy, would you mind-----

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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It will have to go to one of the young lads.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It has three leaders on its front bench.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are three proposals to be put to the House. If the Deputy waits he will get an opportunity to raise the issue about the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill when the next proposal is put. However, we must first agree - if we wish to - that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.45 p.m.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should not mind anything else.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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So what the Tánaiste read out is not the motion before us.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. What we do next is to set out how we will deal with the Committee and Remaining Stages of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is motion No. 2. What is motion No. 1?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, do not mind-----

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Read the full text, please.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should not mind what the Tánaiste has said in this regard.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you. I do not mind what he said and I will say the same to what he said-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Do not be so smart, please.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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You said I should not mind what the Tánaiste said.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would you resume your seat and do not be silly?

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am echoing your words.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are making a fool of yourself.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am opposing the Dáil sitting later than 5.45 p.m. tonight on the basis-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does anybody else disagree with that?

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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-----that there is a guillotine-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy very much. I have listened to him.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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-----between now and then and I am opposing that.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Tánaiste to answer the question as to why we should sit later than 5.45 p.m.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Deputy Sean Fleming has a funeral.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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We have a lot of business to do here. There is the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill and there will be statements on the Government's proposals for reform of water services delivery, which have been sought by the Opposition in addition to the normal Oral Questions and Topical Issues that need to be dealt with. I regret to inform Deputy Sean Fleming that it will be necessary to sit later than 5.45 p.m.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 16, Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012 - Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages, agreed to?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is not agreed. The time allocated to the debate on this Bill has been completely inadequate. The Bill proposes the introduction of far-reaching changes, particularly for lone parents. It is shameful and disappointing that the Government is opting to guillotine this debate. We need more time to discuss it. I am not under any illusion that the Government will be changed from this course of action.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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It can answer for that but we certainly need more time and on those grounds we object to the proposal.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I also oppose the guillotine.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Ladybird book.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Give him a chance. Even Homer nods.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please proceed.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Who was Homer, James? You would need to check that.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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We have the unusual situation of dealing with Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages but with no separate Report Stage and therefore no opportunity to put Report Stage amendments. We would have been happy to finish Committee Stage tonight if we had a separate Report Stage next week but we cannot agree to this.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Boyd Barrett, on behalf of People before Profit.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not being smart when I say that. I have to say it because only party leaders are entitled to speak on this.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The point has been made in recent days but again, on this last day, before the guillotine falls, it is absolutely wrong for the Government to impose this guillotine on such important legislation. Yesterday, we spent the best part of three hours debating one section of the Bill that deals with, in our opinion, the disgraceful cuts to lone parents.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We needed that much time to discuss that section alone and probably could have done with more. We still have an entire rake of sections to discuss that deal with important matters, such as the change in mortgage interest supplement that could cause real problems for mortgage holders in distress and the changes to jobseeker's benefit which will see part-time workers losing €20 or €30 a week. These are very serious issues affecting groups in our society who are under serious pressure and no guillotine should be imposed by this Government. We object very strongly to it.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Tánaiste had to leave the Chamber because he is attending at the announcement of another 100 jobs in Dún Laoghaire-----

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----an important investment in this country. I give his apologies for having to leave.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Unfortunately, I cannot be there.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am sorry the Ceann Comhairle could not go.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Who created the jobs? What is the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, doing here?

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister, Deputy Bruton, is the man for the jobs.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are very important provisions in the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill which many supporters of the Deputies opposite have asked for-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Lone parents will not be getting those jobs.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----namely, to ensure that our social welfare officers have the power at the airports to interview people who come back and forward on flights and may be claiming social welfare.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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People like Denis O'Brien.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The Minister is going after Denis O'Brien.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Keep it up. It may be a matter of no importance to the Opposition-----

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The Minister is making a case for extra time.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----but we want a good social welfare system. Deputy Boyd Barrett did not have time to mention it but in this Bill we are also seeking the power for social welfare inspectors to interview landlords about recipients of rent supplement.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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If the Deputy objects, as it appears he does, I am bringing in measures-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sorry, Minister, we cannot discuss the Bill now.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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-----in regard to fraud.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are dealing with the issue of time.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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That is his problem. Our job is to get is to the economy back and have a secure social welfare system in which people are confident and to which they are happy to contribute.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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This will drive more people into poverty.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It is a turn-around.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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That is all the Minister wants to do.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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For goodness sake. I ask the Deputies to listen to themselves for a minute. It is chaos. People are shouting and roaring.

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Yes.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I would like to have been in Dún Laoghaire for the opening but unfortunately I have to stay here.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with No. 17, statements on the Government's proposals for water services delivery reforms, agreed to? Agreed.