Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, a referral motion to be taken without debate whereby the subject matter of No. 19 on today's Order Paper is being referred to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for discussion — this concerns the exercise by the State of the options under the fourth protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam in respect of a proposal for a Council decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2005 to 2010; and No. 2, statements on agriculture, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 5.30 p.m., with the contribution of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and Members may share time. I am not pushing the option to share time as we would prefer if Members used their full time. The Minister shall be called on to reply not later than five minutes before the conclusion of the statements.