It is proposed to take No. 17, motion re ministerial rota for parliamentary questions; No. 18, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann that section 17A of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 shall continue in force for the period ending on 8 March 2014; No. 19, motion re referral to select sub-committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2013; No. 37, statements on the report of the inter-departmental committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen laundries, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. and to adjourn after spokespersons' statements; and No. 6, Finance Bill 2013 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that: the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the opening speeches of No. 6, and the sitting shall be suspended on the conclusion of the Topical Issue debate until 6.30 p.m.; Nos. 17, 18 and 19 shall be decided without debate; the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 37: the statements of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and of the leaders of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, or persons nominated in their stead, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 20 minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and of the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order, shall not exceed 15 minutes, and such Members may share their time, the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes in each case, and such Members may share their time, and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed ten minutes; and Private Members’ business, which shall be No. 104, motion re mortgage restructuring, shall take place on the conclusion of the spokespersons' statements on No. 37 or at 7.30 p.m., whichever is the later, and shall adjourn after 90 minutes, if not previously concluded.

There are four proposals to be put to the House. No. 1 is the proposal that the Dáil shall later than 9 p.m. tonight and that the suspension of sitting be agreed to. Is that agreed?

Not agreed.

Not agreed.

In terms of the schedule before us, there is no need to take Second Stage of the Finance Bill right through to midnight. It is an extraordinary situation that we will be commencing the Finance Bill at about 9.45 p.m. By my calculation, all the significant speeches by the Minister and the spokespersons will take us through to about 11.45 p.m. This is not emergency legislation. There is nothing of huge consequence in the Finance Bill itself. I do not mean that in a negative way, it is just that nothing is required to be passed by midnight. I know the Bill will also be discussed on Thursday. To be frank, the Finance Bill should be discussed in broad daylight and should be given a reasonable timescale. It does not have to finish on Thursday. In previous years, Finance Bills went on longer. I do not understand what the rush is. I certainly think that it is not good for Parliament that the very first consideration of the Finance Bill would be at 9.45 p.m. right through to midnight. I just do not see why. It is almost reminiscent of December when we are rushing things thought prior to the Christmas break. We are now in springtime and I do not see the necessity for this. I think it is wrong for Parliament. The Finance Bill is important legislation that deserves its proper priority space within the scheduling of the House's business. In addition, the contributions of Members should get as full exposure as possible. I hope the Taoiseach is not guillotining the Bill, although it seems that he will on Thursday. That is something to which we would be very much opposed.

I hope I am wrong but I do not think there is much point in objecting to this, given the way the Government deals with schedules. However, consideration must be given not just to Teachtaí Dála but also to the staff who will have to stay here until almost midnight.

On a point of correction, it is until 12.40 a.m. actually.

It is until 12.45 a.m.

Yes, I am calling Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Deputy Martin is not used to working late.

Sorry, can we have Deputy Boyd Barrett?

Here is the man in blue. Boy blue.

I will wait until you have stopped with the hilarity, Taoiseach.

Please proceed.

I want to object in the strongest possible terms to the Finance Bill - which is probably one of the most important Bills that will pass through the Dáil in the course of this year - being taken that late at night.

The Deputy is never happy.

I did not ask you, Minister.

The Deputy should speak through the Chair, please.

It is absolutely unacceptable that the Finance Bill should be taken that late. I do not know why the Taoiseach thinks it is funny. It is an absolute manipulation and abuse of the democratic process that a Bill of this importance is being taken that late and into the early hours of tomorrow morning. This Bill has profound implications for the solvency of the State and for citizens. It should been discussed in the full glare of public scrutiny and media attention. In my opinion, it is deliberately being put this late at night.

There is absolutely no need for it. Members could have been brought into the Chamber earlier this morning or, for example, the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill scheduled for Thursday could have been swapped with the Finance Bill.

Thank you Deputy.

The introduction of the Finance Bill should be taken at an hour when the public, the media and everyone can scrutinise fully that introduction. I appeal to the Taoiseach to change this proposed order. I also reiterate a point others have made, which is to have some respect for the staff in the Dáil who will be forced to stay here so late.

Thank you. The Taoiseach to reply.

Will the Deputy shout more loudly tonight to be heard?

First, the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill is a budgetary requirement that must be taken and must go through. Deputy Martin raised the point about the Dáil commencing the Finance Bill at 9.45 p.m.

It will be later than 9.45 p.m.

Taoiseach, it will now be later.

The schedule has been revised.

This will be a full formal discussion in this Chamber on the Finance Bill. The Minister for Finance must travel to London tomorrow morning and it appears to me that commencing a formal discussion at 9.45 p.m.-----

It will commence at 10.45 p.m.

Taoiseach, it is scheduled for 10.45 p.m.

-----is a hell of a lot better than having some kind of incorporeal meeting at 3 a.m.-----

On a point of information------

It will be 10.45 p.m.

-----about placing an economic crucifixion on the backs of the people, which the Government now must rectify.

That is what the Government did two weeks ago and now it is doing it again.

In any event, the Dáil will sit tonight until 12.40 a.m. on Second Stage of the Finance Bill.

No, it will be later.

The House will sit all day tomorrow until 10.30 p.m. on the Second Stage debate of the Finance Bill and will continue that debate on Thursday until 2.30 p.m. This comprises more than 12 hours of Second Stage debate, which is more than adequate for Members to have their say in the full glare of public examination and publicity-----

This is manipulation.

-----and I look forward to hearing what Deputy Boyd Barrett has to say in that regard.

The Taoiseach must provide the factual times.

The Taoiseach is treating the House with contempt on a consistent basis.

Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 17, 18 and 19 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 37 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

I call Deputy Martin. Could we have order in the House because there are only six minutes left on the Order of Business.