Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Lest Senators think my aim in life is to make uncertainty prevalent for them, which it is not, the reason we are sitting at1.30 p.m. today is that we were to take the Electoral (Amendment) Bill tonight but for some reason it will not now be taken. The time of the sitting had been given in the Chamber and the notices had been sent out prior to our being told the Bill would not be taken.

The Order of Business today is Nos. 1, 2 and 3. No. 1 is a referral motion whereby the subject matter of No. 14 on today's Order Paper is being referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for consideration. It aims to increase efficiency in the exchange of information concerning terrorist offences between the member states, Europol and Eurojust. It is proposed to take this item without debate; No. 2, the Disability Bill 2004 — Report and Final Stages, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business until 4 p.m.; and No. 3, the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004 — Second Stage, to be taken at 4 p.m. until 6.30 p.m. with the contributions of spokesperson not to exceed 15 minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed ten minutes. The Minister will be called on to reply not later than ten minutes before the conclusion of Second Stage.