Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State for housing and urban renewal, Deputy English, to the House. The normal procedure for Commencement Debates for the past five years was the Senator raising the topic would get four minutes and be given a supplementary of not more than one minute following the Minister's response. Technically, under Standing Orders, a Senator has five minutes but he or she is not permitted a supplementary so my suggestion as Cathaoirleach is that we continue with the practice of allowing four minutes and if an issue arises, permitting the Senator raising the topic to ask a brief supplementary following the Minister's response. I think it would work well so unless there is a desire on the part of Members to do otherwise, I think we should stick to standing precedent. Senator Mac Lochlainn has four minutes.