It is proposed to take No. 34, statements on European Council, Brussels, pursuant to Standing Order 102A(2)(b); No. 9, Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 – motion to instruct the Committee (resumed); and No. 33, Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Order for Report Stage and Report and Final Stages.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 9 p.m. and adjourn at the conclusion of Private Members’ business which shall be No. 192, motion re one-parent family payment scheme (resumed), which shall take place at 9 p.m. or, in the event of a division being in progress at that time, immediately thereafter, and which shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 90 minutes; and No. 34 shall be taken immediately following the Order of Business and that the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes and that the following arrangements shall apply: the statements shall be made by the Taoiseach and the main spokespersons for Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the Technical Group who shall be called on in that order, may share their time and shall not exceed 15 minutes in each case; a Minister or a Minister of State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes; and a Minister or a Minister of State shall be called on to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes and be followed by the suspension of the sitting under Standing Order 23(1).

Tomorrow’s business after Oral Questions shall be No. 33, Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Report Stage (resumed) and Final Stage; and No. 5a, Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with the late sitting agreed to?

No, it is not agreed to. I object to the rescheduling of Private Members' business which clearly is being done by the Government to facilitate the railroading through of contentious legislation before the Dáil goes into recess. The Private Members' motion is about cuts to lone parent payments, yet the Government is moving the debate to prioritise even more austerity measures for hard-pressed citizens. The punitive measures to cut allowances for lone parents will take effect tomorrow and affect 30,000 families, many of whom will be pushed further into poverty. I am sure the Taoiseach knows that the CSO's figures show that 63% of lone parent families live without basic necessities and are among the most vulnerable in society. In another broken promise, the Tánaiste said the cuts would not be implemented without affordable child care and afterschool care services being available, but these services are not in place. Rather than have a proper debate on these matters, the Government jiggles and jigs the clár to allow it to bring forward other measures to facilitate the passage of legislation that will penalise people in not paying water charges they cannot afford. It is a very bad way to deal with Dáil business and shows nothing but contempt both for Government backbenchers and Opposition Deputies.

The Sinn Féin Party is perfectly entitled to table its Private Members' motion on the one-parent family payment scheme. This is not the first time there have changes to the Order of Business. The important point is that Deputy Gerry Adams, as leader of his party, and the members of that party are perfectly entitled to make their case during Private Members' time. There will be an opportunity to vote on the issue, which is normal procedure during Private Members' time. It does not show contempt or anything else for Members.

Yes, it does.

The Deputy's party is fully entitled to avail of Private Members' time. It chooses what to debate and its spokespersons have their opportunity to make their case. It is a rearrangement of business-----

To suit the Taoiseach.

-----but Sinn Féin's motion is an important part of it. I am quite sure the Deputy's voice will be heard during the debate.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 34, statements on the European Council in Brussels, pursuant to Standing Order 102A(2)(b), agreed to? Agreed.