Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome everybody back. The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on innovation at the heart of the jobs challenge, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude at 6 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes, following which questions from other Senators to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be taken in turn. I hope as many Senators as possible will have an opportunity to put questions to the Minister this afternoon. I ask Senators not to preface their questions with statements during the questions and answers part of the debate. The fairest way of ensuring we have a broad-ranging high-level policy discussion with the Minister is to pose clear and direct questions. I am sure everybody in the House shares this objective. I do not want the same people to hog the debate and the questions. I hope all Senators will have had an opportunity to ask questions before anyone comes in for a second time. We are still trying to arrive at the best possible formula for these question and answer sessions. I hope we will receive the full co-operation of Members in this regard.