It is proposed to take No. 15, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2016, back from committee; No. 16, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2016, back from committee; No. 17, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 95(3)) (Variation of Title: Optician) Regulations 2016, back from committee; No. 18, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 (Section 44) (Variation of Indemnity Amount) Order 2016, back from committee; No. 34a, statements on the report of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis; No. 2 - Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad] - Second Stage; No. 1, Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 7, Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 15 to 18, inclusive, shall be decided without debate, and the following arrangements shall apply in relation to No. 34a: the statement of the Chairman of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis and of each member of the committee shall not exceed ten minutes, the statement of each other Member called upon shall not exceed ten minutes, 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.

There are two proposals to be put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 15 to 18, inclusive, - motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Regulations 2016, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Companies Act 2014 (Section 1313) Regulations 2016, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 95(3)) (Variation of Title: Optician) Regulations 2016, back from committee, and motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 (Section 44) (Variation of Indemnity Amount) Order 2016 - without debate agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with No. 34a, statements on the report of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis, agreed to? Agreed.

I am not sure if this is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's last session chairing the Order of Business.

We will be here next week.

I assume it is, and I want to pay tribute to him as the outgoing Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I know he is not seeking re-election to the next Dáil, but it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge his immense contribution to public service.

I believe he has been a Member of the Oireachtas for in excess of 40 years. He has a very distinguished record representing the people of Galway East. He is a public servant of the utmost integrity and I want to acknowledge that. On behalf of his own party, the Fianna Fáil Party, I thank him for decades of service and wish him and his family all the very best in his retirement.

I wish to raise a couple of issues. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad] is due in the House later today. As I understand it, there is broad consensus, at least among the parties, to support the passage of that Bill. Is it the Government's intention in the very limited time available to pass all Stages of that Bill in the House? It is something my party would support.

Recently, Deputy O'Dea brought forward a Private Members' Bill, the Pension Fund (Prohibition of Levies) Bill 2016. The background to this is the imposition of the pension levy on private pension savings from 2011 to 2015, over which period €2.5 billion was taken out of the private pension savings of hundreds of thousands of workers and existing pensioners. The impact of that is becoming clear now for many and will become clear for others over the years ahead. Does the Tánaiste support the thrust of that Bill, which would prohibit any future Government from raiding private pension savings in a similar manner?

In relation to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, I appreciate that the majority of Members in the House would like to see the passage of this Bill. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, has indicated that she would be happy to see all Stages of this Bill being taken today, if the Opposition agrees. It is really dependent on the agreement of the Opposition. If the Opposition can indicate its agreement, then that can be so. That would mean the Dáil would sit later, but it has to be agreed across the board. We would then have an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Dáil shall sit not later than 5.30 p.m. today and shall adjourn at the conclusion of Topical Issues, which shall be taken on the conclusion of Second and Remaining Stages of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 [Seanad], and it shall be taken no later than 3.30 p.m. today, and the proceedings on the Second Stage shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after three hours. It is really for the House, and for all of the different groups in the House, to indicate.

Fianna Fáil is supporting it.

I understand the political parties are in favour. Can I ask whether the Technical Group or the Independent groups are in favour?

I find myself in an awkward position in that I, personally, would agree to it but there would be a variety of views on the Technical Group.

You do not say.

For that reason, I do not think the Technical Group would agree to it.

That is terrible.

I appreciate Deputy Catherine Murphy's own personal position in relation to the legislation because she has spoken on the matter at different times. I appreciate she is obviously not able to commit the Technical Group to the Dáil agreeing and, therefore, I will not proceed. The Second Stage is, therefore, on the agenda.

Will the Whips be meeting on this?

No.

I join in the words of commendation so deservedly spoken about the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and thank him for his courtesy and patience. He was certainly a gentleman, and a patient one at that. We all wish him the very best in the future and congratulate him on his distinguished career.

On the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, my party would be extremely keen that this legislation pass all Stages-----

As we are.

-----as, I appreciate, is the Tánaiste herself and, indeed, as is Fianna Fáil. There is an understandable difficulty for Deputies who may wish to amend or have a fuller debate on the legislation. It is only fair to record that it is not by any means ideal or desirable that such important legislation is dealt with at the eleventh hour. That said, my party's concern to have the legislation passed overrides any concerns around a guillotine or the shortening of the debate. I merely want to indicate that position. When I resume my seat, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle might tell us what this means or when a vote might be taken in relation to amending the Order of Business, or if that is the intention.

There has to be amendments.

There has to be general agreement for the House to agree that all Stages will be taken today. That agreement, as Deputy Catherine Murphy stated, is not forthcoming. In fact, only Second Stage is listed for the Dáil today.

Is it not possible for the House to take a vote?

It is not possible, unless it is by the complete agreement of the House.

That is a real pity.

It is.

Yes.

That is a crying shame. Perhaps we might ask our colleagues in the Technical Group to reconsider.

Can I ask, to be helpful, that the Tánaiste at least give me time to consult?

We will be taking the Second Stage. That is what I would suggest. This is something that I have spoken out about down the years. It is certainly legislation that I and the Labour Party have supported. There are Members of differing views among the Independents. The Bill also received extensive discussion over a long period of time in the Seanad and that, probably, is one of the reasons it is so late coming here. However, without the agreement of the House, Second Stage is listed for today and that is how it will proceed.

Second Stage will proceed then.