Order of Business
The Taoiseach proposes the day’s business, while Deputies seek clarification about replacing a member of the Houses Commission; the proposals are agreed.
It is proposed to take No. 10, motion re report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of the European public prosecutor's office COM (2013) 534; No. 11, motion re appointment of ordinary member to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission; No. 23, statements on pre-European Council meeting of 24-25 October; No. 3, Local Government Bill 2013 - Second Stage (Resumed); and No. 24, Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (Resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 10 and 11 shall be decided without debate and the proceedings in respect of No. 23 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 65 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: the statements made by the Taoiseach and the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group, who shall be called upon in that order and who may share their time, shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; and a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply that shall not exceed five minutes. Private Members' business shall be No. 121, motion re older citizens, resumed, to conclude at 9 p.m., if not previously concluded.
Comment on this
It is not agreed. I seek clarification on No. 11. I do not understand what it is about. The Taoiseach knows that Sinn Féin is not even represented on the commission for reasons that are beyond me. I understand that an Opposition Deputy will be replaced by a Government Deputy. Surely, fairness would see an Opposition Deputy as a replacement, particularly given that our party is excluded from the commission.
Comment on this
In this case, a Deputy has resigned from the commission and is being replaced by a Deputy from the same party.
Comment on this
My point is that Sinn Féin is not even on the commission.