Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I move:

That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the following additional Standing Orders be adopted as Standing Orders of Seanad Éireann relative to Public Business:
Absence for witness evidence
82B. (1) Subject to Standing Order 82C, in the event of any member of a Committee which is conducting a Part 2 inquiry (where the inquiry has the power to make findings of fact) being absent for any witness evidence at a meeting of the Committee, a member nominated by the Committee shall table a motion for a Resolution of Seanad Éireann to remove the member from the Committee in accordance with section 20(4) of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 and Standing Order 89 shall not apply.
(2) For the purpose of this Standing Order and Standing Order 82C, a witness is any person giving oral evidence to the Committee save for employees of, and any person with technical knowledge or expertise engaged by, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.
Absence for witness evidence due to exceptional circumstances
82C. Where a member of a Committee which is conducting a Part 2 inquiry (where the inquiry has the power to make findings of fact) is or will be absent for any witness evidence at a meeting of the Committee, and the Committee agrees that the absence is due to exceptional circumstances:
(1) it may decide not to proceed with the witness evidence or to postpone the commencement of the witness evidence; or
(2) where the Committee is of the view that it is necessary to proceed with the witness evidence, it may, following the consideration of legal advice, proceed with the meeting where: (a) the witness consents to having their evidence heard without the member; and
(b) the witness agrees to any other measures that, according to the legal advice given to the Committee, is necessary and/or appropriate, and the member nominated by the Committee will not table a motion (under Standing Order 82B) for a Resolution to remove the member from the Committee.'."

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I thank the Leader for allowing time for debate on this motion. However, as the Leader said there was a full discussion on these proposed changes to Standing Orders at the CPP last night. I was happy to second the motion put forward at that meeting in the context that the committee of inquiry had been seeking these changes to ensure the efficient and effective conduct of its important work inquiring into the banking collapse and circumstances surrounding it. The changes are self-evident and will assist in the expeditious conduct of the banking inquiry.