Seanad debates

Thursday, 16 July 2015

10:30 am

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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There is usually an Order of Business, and for the Cathaoirleach to cancel it peremptorily is very unusual and an affront to democracy.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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There was an Order of Business and the time expired. The time set for the Order of Business is 55 minutes.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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It did not expire.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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It did expire.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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It was the time the Cathaoirleach set for a sos that caused it to expire.

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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On a point of order, the Leader did not respond to the Order of Business.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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Can we have the Leader’s response to the Order of Business, please? It is a matter of the ordinary process of the business of the House.

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)
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We had an Order of Business that was not concluded.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I have ruled on the matter.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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The Leader’s response does not eat into the time for the Order of Business. We demand the Leader’s response to the truncated Order of Business. Can we have that, please?

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is concluded.

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent)
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Can the Leader move an amendment to the Order of Business to allow himself to speak for a few minutes and address the issues that were raised earlier?

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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It really is outrageous to have an Order of Business and for the Cathaoirleach not to permit the Leader to reply. That is an abuse of democracy. I am asking the Cathaoirleach to use his experience and wisdom to permit the Leader to reply.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is concluded and decided on.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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That does not matter. The Leader should reply. The Cathaoirleach is censoring the Leader of the House. That is a very dangerous thing to do.

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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There was a lot of disorder around.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader did not want to respond to the Order of Business.

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)
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It is a disgrace.