It is proposed to take No. a20, statements on the Guerin report; and No. 4, Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings in respect of No. a20 shall, if not previously concluded, adjourn after the opening speeches and the following arrangements shall apply: the opening speech of the Minister for Justice and Equality 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 30 minutes in each case and such Members may share their time, the speech of each other Member called upon shall not exceed 15 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 speech in reply which shall not exceed 15 minutes; and the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 May 2014.

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with a20 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal that the Dáil on its rising today shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 27 May 2014 agreed to?

It is not agreed.

Is the purpose of this adjournment to allow for the Tánaiste and the Government to canvass the people or is it for the purpose of enabling the Tánaiste to canvass his backbenchers? What is the actual purpose of the adjournment?

We do not debate the issue but the Deputy can vote against it if he so wishes.

Were the Tánaiste to clarify what exactly it is for, Fianna Fáil might be able to assist it.

I cannot allow debate on the issue. It is a straightforward question.

The Deputy was right the first time.

Is its purpose to allow the Tánaiste to canvass the backbenchers?

The Deputy may vote against it. I will call a vote, if necessary.

Deputy Kelleher had better wake up.

Today, there will be statements in respect of the Guerin report. This is a welcome but limited opportunity and in recent weeks, Members have spoken-----

Sorry, we are dealing with the adjournment.

-----about how there is a crisis in respect of public confidence in the administration of justice and in An Garda Síochána. Consequently, it is not acceptable that the House would not sit next week. Members have important and urgent matters to which they must attend. While there are elections, for instance, as the Tánaiste has been so fond of harking up the road in recent times, in the North-----

The Deputy always uses that.

Please.

-----the Assembly will sit next week, although elections also are being held in the North. Consequently, Sinn Féin objects to this proposal.

First, it has been the normal practice that in the week of an election or a referendum, the Dáil does not sit. This is to enable all Members of the House to participate in the election. As Members are aware, after Easter the Dáil returned one week earlier than was originally scheduled. The number of days on which the Dáil sits has increased. The Dáil is scheduled to sit up to the middle of July and I think 16 July is the date that was pencilled in on the document that was circulated. However, if Members find there is unfinished business at that stage, consideration can be given to perhaps extending the sitting of the Dáil up to the end of July or indeed into August, if necessary.