Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before Senator Mulherin begins, I should say I have had complaints from different sides of the House that I have been too lax and flaithiúlach with the time allowed, so Senators will be constrained to their four minutes. The Minister or Minister of State will respond and it is at my discretion to allow a supplementary question. Somebody raised a pertinent point in the last term that we could try to get five matters rather than four into the time. I have looked at the logistics and it is not possible. I have timed people and some used one or two extra minutes, with the Minister taking longer to reply. That means it would be impossible to accommodate five matters as it would encroach on the Order of Business. I am not referring the Senator Mulherin but just saying that in general.