Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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It is proposed to take No. 7, Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; No. 1, Children (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 6, Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 - Second Stage (resumed), to be taken not later than 3 p.m. and the order shall not resume thereafter.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. today and shall adjourn on the conclusion of Topical Issues which shall take place not later than 10 p.m.; the sitting shall be suspended at 2.30 p.m. for 30 minutes; and any division demanded on the Second Stage of No. 6 shall be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Tuesday, 23 June 2015.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are three proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to?

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is not agreed. I would like to raise two issues regarding what is proposed, if it is in order. I object to the late sitting and to the fact that Topical Issues are to come before the House at such a late hour.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Midnight.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It shows disregard for the importance and relevance of the issues in the eyes of those who wish to bring them before the House. I ask the Government to respond to this point.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The proposal was agreed by the Whips. The problem arises from the significant loss of time there has been. The Deputy is a spokesperson in the area to which the legislation relates and it is very important. It deals with site tax, which has been generally welcomed, particularly by people involved in local authorities. It also deals with the reservations regarding social housing and the adoption of mechanisms in the law which will ensure money will not be handed over in lieu of building social housing. They are very progressive and important developments and I am surprised the Deputy, as a spokesperson in the area, would not wish to debate them today.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I spoke at length the day before yesterday and raised many concerns about the Bill.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I mean the Deputy's party.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would have thought-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have to put the question. The question is: "That he proposal for dealing with the late sitting be agreed to."

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the proposal for dealing with the suspension of sitting agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal that any division demanded on the Second Stage of No. 6 be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Tuesday, 23 June 2015 agreed to?

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is not agreed. I agree with the relevance and importance of the legislation, if not with much of the content in it. While I accept and support some elements of it, we will be forced to vote against it in the event that the Government rejects amendments we might put forward to improve the legislation. The Tánaiste referred to the relevance, importance and necessity of the legislation, despite the fact the site tax is not proposed until 2019. However, the Government will defer the vote until next week. I thought the Government used this privilege only on Friday sitting days.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Fianna Fáil invented it.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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This is Thursday. The only reason for it is to allow backbenchers to return to their constituencies to campaign. Does this signify we are on an election footing or are there more bottle banks to be opened today that I am unaware of?

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Tomorrow, they are turning the sod for a building that is already built in Carrick-on-Suir.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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We are interested in opening the rebuilding of the country and the fact so many people are returning to work after the mess in which Fianna Fáil left them. Fianna Fáil's cavalier attitude to housing and construction is part of the reason the country collapsed. We have recovered it and we have people back at work.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Not one house has been built in my constituency in four years. This is the Government's legacy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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What was Fianna Fáil doing when it was in government?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Durkan, do not raise your blood pressure. It is not good for you.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I concur with Deputy Cowen-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am sorry, only the acting leader of a party can speak. While I have no doubt about Deputy O'Brien's potential, Deputy Mac Lochlainn is acting leader at the moment.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I will take over from my very able-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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If you do not agree with the proposal, you can vote against it.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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It is a very unhealthy precedent. Although the Friday sitting votes roll over to Tuesday's sittings, to do the same on a Thursday smacks of a plan to let the Government team go home and keep us here. It is bad practice.