Today’s business shall be No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2018, without debate; No. a26, statements on the Government response to the Salisbury attack; No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister with responsibility for defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2016, back from committee and to conclude within 40 minutes; No. 1, Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange) Bill 2018 [Seanad] - Second Stage. Private Members’ business shall be No. 178, motion re. disabilities, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday’s business shall be No. 9a, motion re report of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government under Standing Order 114 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption, recast, COM (2017) 753, without debate; No. b26, post-European Council statements; No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister with responsibility for defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2016, back from committee, resumed if not previously concluded; No. 26, Childcare Support Bill 2017 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; No. 26a, Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Bill 2018 [Seanad] - Committee and Remaining Stages; No. 5, Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; and No. 1, Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange) Bill 2018 [Seanad] - Second Stage (resumed). Private Members’ business shall be No. 179, motion re HPV vaccine, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday’s business shall be No. 10, motion re Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 (Increase in Number of Ordinary Members of An Bord Pleanála), back from committee, without debate; No. 10a, motion re appointment of seven commissioners to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, to conclude within 40 minutes; No. 5, Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill 2018 Order for Second Stage and Second Stage; No. 1, Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange) Bill 2018 [Seanad] - Second Stage, resumed; and No. 27, statements on affordable housing, to adjourn at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 11, Report of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting by the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment shall be debated in the evening slot.

I refer to the first revised report of the Business Committee, dated 27 March 2018. In relation to Tuesday's business, it is proposed that: (1) motion on the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2018, shall be taken without debate; (2) statements on the Government response to the Salisbury attack shall be confined to a single round for a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons of parties and groups, and shall not exceed ten minutes each. There will be a five-minute response from Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time. The statements shall be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes, if not previously concluded, and, if concluded after 8 p.m., shall be followed by Private Members’ business for two hours and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of Private Members’ business; and (3) speeches on the motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister with responsibility for defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2016, back from committee, shall be confined to a single round for a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons of parties and groups which shall not exceed five minutes each and the motion shall be brought to a conclusion after 40 minutes, if not previously concluded, and all Members may share time.

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that: (1) motion re report of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government under Standing Order 114 shall be taken without debate; (2) post-European Council statements shall commence immediately after Taoiseach’s Questions and be followed by the suspension of sitting under Standing Order 25(1) for one hour. The statements will be brought to a conclusion after one hour and 45 minutes if not previously concluded. Speeches of a Minister or Minister or State and the main spokespersons for parties and groups, or a Member nominated in their stead, shall be ten minutes each and a Minister or Minister for State shall take questions for a period not exceeding 20 minutes, with a five-minute response from Minister or Minister of State, and all Members may share time; and (3) the order of the Dáil of 21 March 2018 referring the Telecommunications Services (Ducting and Cables) Bill 2018 [Seanad] to select committee be discharged and that Committee Stage of the Bill be taken in committee of the whole Dáil on Wednesday, 28 March 2018.

In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that: (1) motion re Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2017 (Increase in Number of Ordinary Members of An Bord Pleanála), back from committee, shall be taken without debate; (2) motion re appointment of seven commissioners to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission shall commence immediately afterwards and be followed by the weekly divisions. Speeches shall be confined to a single round for a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokesperson of parties and groups and shall not exceed five minutes each. The motion shall be brought to a conclusion after 40 minutes, if not previously concluded, and all Members may share time; (3) statements on affordable housing shall commence not later than 3.30 p.m. and to adjourn at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded, and the order shall not resume thereafter. In the opening round, statements of a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokesperson of parties and groups, or a Member nominated in their stead, shall not exceed ten minutes each. All other Members shall not exceed ten minutes each and there shall be a five minute response from a Minister or Minister of State. All Members may share time; and (4) the Dáil on its rising shall adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 April 2018.

There are three proposals to be considered by the House. Is the proposal for dealing with today's business agreed?

It is not agreed. After the Business Committee concluded the business for today the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement, first to the media and only in the past 30 to 40 minutes was it posted to his website, making what I believe to be a pre-emptive, stupid and reckless decision to expel Russian diplomats without any evidence of Russian culpability for the Salisbury atrocity-----

We are making proposals to have a debate on that matter.

The Deputy is on a soapbox.

Absolutely but that decision has been made in advance of the debate with no provision for a vote on a decision, which I and other Deputies believe fundamentally attacks our international reputation as a neutral country, without any evidence and which is frankly riddled with hypocrisy in respect of the justifications that provided for it.

We cannot enter into that debate now.

I certainly will not be agreeing to the order of business unless the Government concedes that there will be a vote on this decision because it has profound implications for Ireland's neutrality and is based on no evidence whatsoever.

The Deputy has made his point.

I too think it is a funny way to do business, to have a short debate this evening after the decision has been made. I disagree with it also and support Deputy Boyd Barrett.

The debate is happening because there was a request to have a debate.

On a point of order, the Minister issued his statement after that decision was made, pre-empting the debate.

The Deputy has made that point.

The timing of a debate is a matter for the House but 17 countries in Europe have made this decision as have 23 around the world. These are government decisions. I am not aware of any country that makes these decisions based on a parliamentary debate and vote.

We are a neutral country.

So are Finland and Sweden.

The business for today is agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to?