Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before I allow Senator O'Sullivan in for her four minutes, I wish to clarify something. Members by agreement can share time if the House agrees. However, one cannot borrow time from another if, for example, one Senator has eight minutes and wants ten. That is how the situation works now. I was totting up the times in this debate. I know that the Civil Engagement group is very passionate about this Bill. It received 40 minutes or slightly more than that. That did not include the Labour Party or any other party. The Minister had 16 minutes. That adds up to close to an hour. If we look at the mathematics of it, 49 Senators had approximately an hour if they potentially wanted to use it. That is why I have to bí cúramach up here and be fair.

About five years ago, with the agreement of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the former Leader of the House extended the times. It used to be eight minutes and six minutes. It was changed to 12 minutes and eight minutes. That was an addition. As well as that, the current Leader has been kind enough most weeks to schedule two Private Members' sessions. There has been a lot of latitude given. I just want to be fair. I hope that when my tenure is up, people will say I was fair to everyone. I wanted to make that case. It is not that I am being Mr. Scrooge up here spoiling the debate. I have to apply the rules fairly across the board.

Senator O'Sullivan has four minutes to respond. There is sufficient time so I will not be cutting her short.