With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to make an amendment to the Order of Business, to provide that Members may share time during the statements on the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Before I knew that Government time was to be made available for the statements referred to by the Taoiseach, I received seven requests from Deputies who wanted to speak about this matter during the Topical Issue debate. In light of the number of requests and the importance of this subject, I decided to allocate three Topical Issue slots for such a discussion. I would like to think that when time is being shared during the debate, time will be given to those who agreed to withdraw their Topical Issue requests. That would be only fair.

That is a fair comment.

It would be unfair if they were to be wiped out, given that they submitted their requests before 10 o'clock this morning.

Does this mean the order is being amended to allow for the sharing of time?

That is correct.

I am putting that formally to the House now. I would like to think the House will agree that the Deputies to whom I have referred will be facilitated in whatever way the House agrees.

I do not disagree with that.

Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.