Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

2:30 pm

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Fine Gael)
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I move:

(1) That Seanad Éireann resolves that - (a) a joint sitting of both Houses of the Oireachtas shall be held in the Dáil Chamber on Wednesday 6th April, 2022, at 9.50 a.m., and His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, shall be invited to address such joint sitting via video conference;

(b) the Ceann Comhairle shall be Chairperson of the joint sitting and shall adjourn the sitting immediately following the concluding statement by the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann;

(c) the arrangements shall be as follows:
(i) the Ceann Comhairle shall open the joint sitting by inviting the President to address the Houses;

(ii) following the address, statements in response may be made in the following order and shall not exceed the times indicated:
(I) an Ceann Comhairle – 2 minutes;

(II) the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the leaders of the Green Party and Sinn Féin - 6 minutes each;

(III) the leaders or a representative of the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity, the Regional Group, the Rural Independent Group and the Dáil Independent Group -3 minutes each; and

(IV) the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann - 6 minutes; and members may share time;
(2) in the event that President Zelenskyy is unable to participate, the Ceann Comhairle shall be empowered to cancel or postpone, or to suspend, the joint sitting;

(3) the protocol and seating plan for the joint sitting shall be as agreed by the Dáil Business Committee and the Seanad Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight; and

(4) following the adjournment of the joint sitting, the Seanad shall meet at 12 noon in the Seanad Chamber and the following arrangements shall apply:
(i) Standing Orders 29 and 30 shall stand suspended;

(ii) the Order of Business shall be proposed at 12 noon.

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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I understand that it is not proposed to move amendment No. 1.

Amendment No. 1 not moved.

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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On a point of information, is it possible for us as a House to send a message to the Ceann Comhairle to liaise on the motion that is being put before the House?

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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That is a separate matter.

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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There should have been consultation. I am sorry I did not get an opportunity to sign the motion, but we should have had a discussion on it.

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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We will have to discuss that matter separately. We are discussing the motion.

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

Question put and agreed to.