Seanad debates
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Business of Seanad
10:30 am
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I propose a suspension of approximately 15 minutes. The decision not to adopt the Order of Business has a bearing on next Tuesday's business. No. 1 on the agenda was to bring the Commissioner into the House on Tuesday. Perhaps I could return in 15 minutes with a suggestion for the House to deal with the matter.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I propose an amendment to the Leader's proposal to the effect that the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, be called to the House to-----
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The proposal is not about the Minister, it is about the ordering of business.
David Norris (Independent)
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It is on the-----
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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We are only dealing with a suspension.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I just want to clarify the procedure.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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This is only a proposal for a suspension of 15 minutes.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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It is not proposing the full suspension of the House for the day?
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I can revert on this issue.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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This is just about a suspension of 15 minutes.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The House will resume in 15 minutes' time.
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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May I have a moment to speak to my colleague, please?
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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We are getting legal advice.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Senator Darragh O'Brien without interruption.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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We just need to be clear on our procedure. The Leader's proposal is not about the formal suspension of the House for the day.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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No. It is a suspension of 15 minutes.
Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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On your-----
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I have no difficulty with a 15-minute suspension. I am certain that everyone wants the European Commissioner to attend the House next week. No one wants to block that. However, we will propose an amendment today, on foot of a further proposal from the Leader, to the effect that the Minister attend the House after the suspension-----
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I can only deal with the proposal for a suspension.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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-----for a one-hour debate on the serious issues that have been raised by a number of colleagues.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Leader's proposal is to suspend the House-----
Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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A number of colleagues across the House.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Yes. I said that.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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-----for 15 minutes-----
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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Will the Leader amend that?
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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-----until 1.30 p.m. Is that agreed?
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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It is not agreed.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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No, we will have to do that.
Denis Landy (Labour)
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Get your ducks in a row, Darragh.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I do not see why something cannot be agreed to deal with next Tuesday's invitation. The Leader might move such a proposal immediately by way of an amendment. It could be: "We agree to have Commissioner Hogan here next week."
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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We will certainly do that.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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That deals with the Leader's issue. We want to amend the business-----
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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That is the amendment that I will return with at 1.30 p.m.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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That is settled. We will all agree that.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Also, my office is trying to ascertain whether the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, will be available today. I cannot propose an amendment until we have that information from her office. That is what I will be doing in the 15 minutes.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Senator O'Donnell wants to speak.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I am proposing to suspend the House.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Leader has proposed a suspension until 1.30 p.m.
Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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It is not all-----
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I propose an amendment to the Leader's proposal to the effect that the House will suspend until 1.30 p.m. and request that the Minister attend the House afterwards.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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This is only a proposal for a suspension.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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That is okay. It is for 15 minutes. That is agreed.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is it agreed to suspend the House until 1.30 p.m.? Agreed.
Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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I propose that No. 1, motion re arrangements for the address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, on 23 June, be taken now without debate; and that No. 1bon a Supplementary Order Paper, statements on the Beit collection, as requested by the House, be taken at 4.30 p.m., to conclude no later than 5.30 p.m., with all Senators' contributions not to exceed five minutes each and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate no later than 5.20 p.m. Due to the Minister's schedule today, this is the earliest that she can attend.
Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leader. I know that much of this was arranged on short notice. On behalf of my group, I am agreeable to the Leader's proposal for this amended ordering of business for today.
Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.