Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, a procedural motion agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the attendance of Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP, in the House this afternoon, with the arrangements as outlined in the motion, to be taken without debate; No. 2, a procedural motion as agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges regarding the attendance of Nuala Ahern, MEP, in the House this afternoon, with the arrangements as outlined in the motion, to be taken without debate; No. 3, a referral motion whereby the subject matter of No. 12 on today's Order Paper is being referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, concerning the application of certain provisions of the 2000 European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and its 2001 protocol to Iceland and Norway, to be taken without debate; No. 4, the address by Pat Cox, MEP, President of the European Parliament, this morning, the arrangements for which were agreed yesterday; and No. 5, the Road Traffic Bill 2003 – All Stages, to be taken at 4 p.m, to conclude not later than 5 p.m, and an early signature motion for that Bill on its receipt from Dáil Éireann this afternoon. The general office will circulate a Supplementary Order Paper on notification from the Dáil that the Bill has been completed there. There will be a sos from 12.40 p.m. to 2 p.m.

There are those who would rightfully ask why we cannot deal with the Road Traffic Bill during the period allocated for the sos, but we will not have received it from the Dáil at that time. It must pass through the Dáil and then come to us.