Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not taking a point of order right now. Thank you. I heard Senator Ruane's earlier intervention around Standing Order 55. I have been following the debate. I have been here for a piece of the debate. To Members who are not familiar with Standing Order 55, a Senator may claim to move that the question be now put, as Senator Ruane has referenced. In this case, the question involved is the question on the section and unless it appears to me, as Cathaoirleach, that the closure motion "is an infringement of the rights of a minority [of Members], or that the question has not been adequately discussed, or that the motion is otherwise an abuse of these Standing Orders", the question will be put forthwith and must be decided by the House without amendment or debate. I heard what the Senator said. I have watched the debate, as I have said.

I inform Members of the House that the House has disposed of 11 sections of the Bill, with five amendments decided, and we have been here since 2.30 p.m. In my opinion, notwithstanding some of the remarks Senator Ruane has made, this is not unduly slow progress. To be fair in the circumstances, it is difficult for me to conclude that the question has already been adequately discussed. Accordingly, I do not propose to permit a closure motion to be moved right now.

That said, I want to make the following point to all Members of the House. I want all Members to listen to what I say next. This is an important debate. It is, of course, important that the debate on any question before the House is conducted in a manner that is relevant to the sections or amendments being put forward and is not unduly repetitious. This afternoon, Members, some of the contributions have been extremely repetitious, not relevant to the sections and have strayed off the point completely. It is a matter for me, as Chair, to determine whether or not Standing Order 55 should apply and I have made that decision. I urge all Members, in the interests of progressing the Bill, to ensure their contributions are relevant and that they do not repeat themselves unnecessarily.