Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, a referral motion whereby the subject of motion No. 20 is being referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food for discussion. It concerns the transfer of the abattoir licensing functions from the Department of Agriculture and Food to local authorities with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland providing an overall co-ordinating role. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has reached an agreement with county managers and local authority veterinarians on the transfer arrangement. It is proposed to take this item without debate; No. 2 is a motion relating to the Commission on Electronic Voting. The commission had considered that its first report could also be its final report and that it would, as set out in the legislation, be dissolved after the expiry of two months from its report unless the Government, by order, requested it to make further reports. The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2004 provides for such an order to be so made. On 24 June, the Government asked the commission to make any necessary further reports about the work it envisaged in the recommendations of its first report on 30 April. The Government also asked the commission to include in such reports a comparative assessment of the current paper-based system for voting at elections and referendums. It will be considered without debate; No. 3, Water Services Bill 2003 — Committee Stage (resumed), to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business until 7 p.m.; and No. 4, Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 7 p.m. and to conclude not later than 9 p.m. with spokespersons having 12 minutes and other Senators having eight minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than five minutes before the conclusion of the debate.