Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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It is proposed that, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, or the Order of the Dáil today, the Dáil shall sit later than midnight and shall adjourn no later than 5 a.m.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is that agreed? It is not agreed.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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This is a very important issue and many people want to make serious contributions. There is nothing that requires us to pass this Bill tonight. I cannot understand why we cannot adjourn the debate and resume it tomorrow, and continue having this debate until everybody who wants to make a genuine contribution gets an opportunity to do so. It is fair to say-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I think you have made your point.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to finish. Nobody has been-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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You are just using up time.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----speaking for the sake of speaking. The public are anxious to hear what Deputies have to say, and I think they would prefer that we would continue this debate in a proper manner tomorrow and take whatever time is needed.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I am not going to oppose the Government on this, but we discussed this at our group meeting earlier on, and the case was made that there is no provision for the staff. There had to be an intervention earlier on to have a break. There are many women here who have children and who came in this morning at 7.30 a.m. It is a big argument for changing the way we work this institution.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to place on record the absolute absence of any consultation with the Opposition Whips in regard to the farcical motion just put before the House. In terms of the public perception of this House, the motion put by the Government, without notice, has reduced this situation to a farce.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The public perception will be one of incredulity in terms of what has been proposed.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy. We are returning to the Bill.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is wrong of the Government to do this. It is bad enough if people want to use jackboot tactics against their own Members, but it is not good enough that they try to use them against every other Member.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no national emergency here. This session could, if the Government wanted, be postponed until tomorrow. If Members want to deliberate further, we have no difficulty with that.

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

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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For the Government to treat the Opposition in the manner it has, and indeed some its own backbenchers, and keep them here until 5 a.m. is a joke. Nor does it do justice to the issue. It does not do justice to the sensitivity of the issue.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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This is an issue Fianna Fáil would not address for 14 years.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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How many bankers has Deputy Shatter locked up so far? None yet.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy talked about a farce. Please do not make it a farce.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At 9.57 p.m. there was a text message from the Chief Whip - no consultation, no meeting, and they talk about Dáil reform. No wonder they want to abolish the Seanad.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will return to the Bill.