Seanad debates

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

3:00 am

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I propose that the House suspend until 5:15 p.m. There is a vote in the Dáil and the Minister of State to be present for Private Members' business is not paired.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed?

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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With respect, if we had known about this perhaps we could have had another 15 minutes for the very important debate which was very heavily curtailed. I am not sure I am keen to agree to this.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I was not aware of it. I did not know the request was going to be made.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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Is the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, paired?

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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No, and I thank Senator Bacik for her co-operation.

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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I do not think we are co-operating on this. We should have had more time for the previous debate. We brought forward Private Members' business to 5 p.m. to facilitate everyone and we were happy to do so, but now it is being moved back to 5:15 p.m. Will the debate on Private Members' business continue until 7:15 p.m.?

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is Senator Bacik disagreeing with the proposal to suspend the sitting?

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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Yes.

Question, "That the sitting be suspended until 5.15 p.m.", put and declared carried.

Sitting suspended at 5.03 p.m. and resumed at 5.20 p.m.

Photo of Marc MacSharryMarc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I propose we suspend the House until 5.30 p.m.

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed?

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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No.

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, who is due to take Private Members' business on behalf of the Government, is required to be in the Dáil Chamber for a vote as there is no pair available to him. I apologise to the House and Senators Bacik and Prendergast and will endeavour to ensure Private Members' business is concluded by 7 p.m. to facilitate Senator Bacik, who, I understand, has another appointment.

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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Does the Whip propose a suspension?

Photo of Diarmuid WilsonDiarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, until 5.30 p.m.

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed?

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Independent)
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I am not happy to agree to that. I do not have another appointment at 7 p.m. and am happy to stay beyond that. I am anxious, however, that we do not mess around with the timetable too much. We had to curtail the earlier debate and although I was anxious to speak for the allotted time on that debate, I only got two minutes. The Minister of State's response also had to be cut short on the earlier debate. It is in that context I opposed the change in the ordering of business to 5.15 p.m and this change to 5.30 p.m.

Question, "That the House be suspended until 5.30 p.m.", put and declared carried.

Sitting suspended at 5.23 p.m and resumed at 5.27 p.m.