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 motion 17 on today's Order Paper is being referred for consideration to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Official Languages Act 2003 seeks to provide a framework and mechanism for planned improvements in the delivery of public services through Irish in order that the State's obligations can be met in a coherent way and with progress being achieved in the context of existing resources over time. The Act provides for this to be achieved in three ways, through directly applicable provisions of the Act applicable to all public bodies, through the agreement of language schemes with individual public bodies and through regulations to be made by the Minister in accordance with the terms of the Act. The proposed regulations will represent a key step in the implementation of the act on a phased basis. The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs consulted the other Departments prior to the drafting of the regulations. No. 2, the Prisons Bill 2006 — Order for Second Stage and Second Stage will be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business until 5.00 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed ten minutes. No. 25, motion 25 will be taken from 5.00 p.m. until 7.00 p.m.