Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators Mooney, Norris and Cullinane asked about the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 and the amount of time we would give to it. I had announced on Tuesday that we would possibly be meeting on Friday to deal with the Bill because I understood there were 85 amendments in the other House. I thought we would have a similar number of amendments here and I made arrangements that we would meet on Friday. However, I understand that there are now approximately 30 amendments to the Bill from this House. I discussed the matter yesterday with the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin and with Senator Barrett and those who had tabled amendments. In light of the number of amendments tabled I asked if they would not mind if we dealt with the matter on Thursday and proposed the following: we would allow as much time as possible; we would have a break between Second Stage and Committee Stage; we would have a break, as I mentioned in the announcement of the Order of Business, between Committee Stage and Report Stage, if necessary; and we would allow ample time to discuss the Bill in full. That was the reason the business has been ordered as it is ordered. It has been ordered in consultation with all Members on the other side of the House who had tabled amendments.

Senator Mooney welcomed the fact that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, will be coming to the House at 12.15 p.m.

Everyone is glad that the chief executive of Apple has mentioned that there is no special deal and I understand that the US Senator in question and the Senate sub-committee have been written to by the Government on this issue to clarify the Government's position.

Senator Bacik welcomed the fact that the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street will move and that the new hospital will be on the site of St. Vincent's University Hospital. There will be a state-of-the-art building on the site and Senator Bacik has welcomed this. She also notified us of the European space expo in Trinity College next week.

Senator Norris will note that I have explained the position in respect of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill. I note his points on Bahrain as well and motions have been passed in the House on the matter previously.