Today’s business shall be No. 8, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Commission of Investigation (Response to complaints or allegations of child sexual abuse made against Bill Kenneally and related matters) Order 2018; No. 23, Childcare Support Bill 2017 - amendments from the Seanad, resumed; and No. 24, Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages.

Private Members’ business shall be No. 190, motion re special needs assistants, selected by the Rural Independent Group.

Wednesday’s business shall be No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the agreement between the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere and Ireland, back from committee; No. 10, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences and repealing Council Decision 2000/642/JHA, back from committee; No. 25, pre-European Council statements; No. 26, Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Report and Final Stages, resumed; No. 23, Childcare Support Bill 2017, amendments from the Seanad, resumed, if not previously concluded; No. 24, Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 - Report and Final Stages, resumed, if not previously concluded; and No. 27, Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016 introduced by Deputy Kelly - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages. Private Members’ business shall be No. 53, Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017 - Second Stage, selected by Fianna Fáil.

Thursday’s business shall be No. 28, statements on implementing the national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery: A Health-Led Response to Drug and Alcohol Use in Ireland 2017–2025; and No. 29, statements on child homelessness June 2018. No. 11, motion re report on penal reform and sentencing by the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality shall be debated in the evening slot.

I refer to the first revised report of the Business Committee dated 20 June 2018. In relation to today’s business, it is proposed that the motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the draft Commission of Investigation (Response to complaints or allegations of child sexual abuse made against Bill Kenneally and related matters) Order 2018 shall be brought to a conclusion after 45 minutes. Speeches shall be confined to a single round for a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for parties or groups, or a Member nominated in their stead not to exceed five minutes each with a five-minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time.

In relation to Wednesday’s business, it is proposed that:

(1) motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the agreement between the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere and Ireland, back from Committee, and motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules facilitating the use of financial and other information for the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of certain criminal offences and repealing Council Decision 2000/642/JHA, back from committee, shall be taken without debate;

(2) pre-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 shall be brought to a conclusion after two hours and 45 minutes with the statements of a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for parties or groups, or a Member nominated in their stead for a period not to exceed ten minutes each. There shall be a second round of contributions not exceeding ten minutes each with a five-minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time; and

(3) Second Stage of the Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017 shall conclude after two hours, if not previously concluded.

In relation to Thursday’s business, it is proposed that:

(1) statements on implementing the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery: A Health-Led Response to Drug and Alcohol Use in Ireland 2017-2025, shall adjourn after the opening round of statements by a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for parties or groups, or a Member nominated in their stead, whose statements shall not exceed ten minutes each and all Members may share time; and

(2) statements on child homelessness June 2018 shall be brought to a conclusion after 85 minutes, if not previously concluded, and shall be followed by Topical Issues, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of the motion re report on penal reform and sentencing. Statements shall be confined to a single round for a Minister or Minister of State and the main spokespersons for parties or groups, or a Member nominated in their stead for a period not exceeding ten minutes each with a five-minute response from the Minister or Minister of State and all Members may share time.

There are three proposals to put to the House today.

Could I make an observation on the Order of Business?

Yes.

I have raised this with the Whips. I am unhappy with the arrangements for Thursday, particularly the item of Government business, statements on the implementation of the national-----

We will get to Thursday's business in a minute. The first proposal just deals with today's business. Is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to?

The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 is scheduled for Report Stage today. I am aware that we cannot have a debate about it now, but a very unusual set of rulings was made by the Chair at committee. Virtually every amendment proposed by the Opposition was ruled out of order on the basis of Standing Order 179(3), that is, on the basis that they proposed to impose a charge on the State. For example, an amendment that proposed to increase the compensation paid by employers generally was ruled out of order on the basis that the State is an employer. If that had general application we would never be able to propose an amendment to anything. If we were amending legislation on landlords or property rights, the State is a property owner. If we were amending contract law, the State enters into contracts and there might be a potential cost. It is a new departure which ruled out virtually all Opposition amendments. It puts us in an invidious situation in respect of Report Stage. I do not suppose there is a remedy for it but perhaps we could discuss it generally at the Sub-Committee on Dáil Reform.

Let us have a discussion about it immediately after this session and we will see if matters can be resolved. Apart from that, is the proposal for dealing with Tuesday's business agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Wednesday's business agreed to? Agreed. I call on Deputy O'Dowd.

The debate on the national drugs strategy is very important. The problem is that there are 80 minutes for the debate in total. The Government gets ten minutes and the Opposition gets 70. The difficulty I have is that this is a huge issue in my constituency, where there is very serious intimidation by criminals. People are being threatened. One family has been followed from one town to another. The property the local authority were moving them into has been attacked. It is a huge issue. In the interests of accountability in the Oireachtas, I need to speak for my constituents here on Thursday.

That is appreciated. The time is not curtailed. The debate will be adjourned on Thursday, to be resumed as soon as possible thereafter.

The difficulty with that proposal, on which I sought clarity today, concerns the question of when it will be resumed. I would be happy if it were resumed next week but if the Dáil is to adjourn shortly, it might not be resumed until the autumn. It is such an urgent matter for my constituents.

I am sure that if the Deputy talks to the Chief Whip, he will raise the matter with the Business Committee this week. We will see whether time can be found.

I accept that.

Is Thursday's business agreed to? Agreed.

I call Deputy Micheál Martin on promised legislation.