Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the use of this historic Chamber. I am sure many of the Deputies from Members' counties will be anxious that Members do not get too comfortable and that we return to our own Chamber as soon as circumstances allow.

I remind Members we have 55 minutes for the Order of Business and for contributions from Members, and to which we must keep, otherwise we will not be able to bring in everybody who wishes to speak. As such, our advice today is from Cicero, who said that brevity is the best recommendation of a speech, whether in a senator or an orator, although I am sure many Senators are also orators.

As this is the first sitting of Seanad Éireann in this historic Chamber since 1987 and as nearly 40 Members are new to the House, there are a number of procedural issues I want to clarify in regard to the Order of Business.

The Order of Business is what the Leader outlines for the House on a given day. The issue before us today is the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020. Members can contribute on the issue during the Order of Business. There has also been a practise by Members of bringing up other issues they want debated in the House and they call for the Leader to arrange time to have those issues debated. They can, of course, talk about that issue and support that issue with their argument but brevity is key. We do not want long speeches and scripted speeches are not encouraged, although Members can, of course, have one because it is the Order of Business and it is their Chamber, but time is of the essence.

In previous Seanaid, the Committee on Procedure and Privileges has outlined what Members should speak on and how long they should speak for but we have not adopted those rules yet. Leaders have three minutes and all other Senators are asked to speak for two minutes. On the Order of Business, it is the practise that Senators, other than leaders, would confine their remarks and suggestions to one issue.

The clocks are here today for guidance and to assist Members with timekeeping while being mindful of the advice of Cicero. I wish all the orators well in this historic Chamber and again thank the Ceann Comhairle for accommodating Seanad Éireann in the Chamber of the people today.

I ask the Leader to outline the Order of Business.