Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, a motion whereby the subject matter of motion No. 14 on today's Order Paper is being referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, to be taken without debate; No. 2, statements on the report of the audit of health structures and the commission into health funding report, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 2 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Senators may share time, the Minister to be called upon to reply not later than ten minutes before the conclusion of statements at approximately 1.50 p.m.; No. 3, Arts Bill 2002 – Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 6 p.m. – there is one Goverment amendment; and No. 15, motion No. 32, to be taken from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. In a change to the Order of Business, there will be a sos from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Let me explain the change to the House. When a Bill is not initiated in the House, we often take the example of how it proceeded through the other House. During its passage through the other House the Arts Bill evoked much lively comment and many amendments which were very lengthy. That does not appear to be the case in this House where clearly we appear to be more culturally minded. We have been able to deal with the Bill very quickly with the result it does not need the time allocated.