Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I second Senator Fitzgerald's amendment to the Order of Business. Senator O'Malley may be correct in regard to salaries but that does not give the Government the right to cut respite care to those who need it most. Respite care is not a luxury; it is a necessity and it is a bad sign for our society if we make cuts to the most vulnerable and the voiceless. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, to debate this issue in the House today. There is a wonderful term in the Irish language for people with a disability - duine le Dia. As stated in the Proclamation, we must cherish all our children equally, but, unfortunately, the Government is not doing so. Instead, it is forcing parents to take to the streets of the capital city, not to protest but to stand up for their rights and protect their loved ones. I ask the Leader to implore the Minister of State to ensure services provided for those most in need are not cut.

I am disappointed the Leader has proposed that the motion on changes to the titles of Departments and committees be taken without debate. These changes will give rise to substantial costs to the State in terms of personnel and revenue. Why is it considered necessary to change the titles of Departments and Ministers? The reason it is unnecessary is that the message will remain the same because the Government does not have a jobs policy or vision and people do not have hope. The most appropriate course of action would be to change the personnel running the Government, as I hope the electorate will do in due course.

It is proposed to change the manner in which the civil partnership Bill is to be taken, as ordered in a notification circulated to Senators last week. May I assume from the Leader's comments that the Minister will reply to the debate on Second Stage at 4.50 p.m., that the debate will conclude at 5 p.m. and that proceedings on Second Stage will not resume after Private Members' time? If that is the case, why is the Leader going back on his word by imposing a guillotine motion? The civil partnership Bill is the most important legislation to be discussed in the House for many a day, yet the Leader is curtailing Members' speaking rights. I ask him to provide for a resumption of the Second Stage debate after Private Members' time. If necessary, the House should sit on Friday or an additional day next week. The Leader must not curtail debate on the most important social legislation before the House.