Order of Business
The Taoiseach outlined the week’s legislative and statement business. Deputies opposed agreeing the order and then raised immigration and refugee accommodation, the Johnny O’Meara ruling, and objections to the planned Gaza debate and short amendment deadline.
I move:
Tuesday's business shall be:
- Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023 Motion to Instruct the Committee (without debate)
- Motion re Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (to conclude within 147 mins)
Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Housing and Homeless Prevention, selected by Sinn Féin.
Wednesday's business shall be:
- Statements post European Council meeting of 14th-15th December, pursuant to Standing Order 124 (statements for 102 mins, followed by 20 mins Q&A, followed by Ministerial response for 5 mins)
- Motion re Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces (to conclude within 112 mins)
- Digital Services Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 6 p.m. and to conclude within 60 mins)
- Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 9.14 p.m. or after 1 hr 30 mins, whichever is the later)
Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Gaza and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, selected by the Social Democrats.
Thursday's business shall be:
- Statements on United Kingdom Import Controls (not to exceed 112 mins)
- Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at 6.30 p.m. or after 2 hrs 56 mins, whichever is the later)
Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2023.
Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business:
In relation to Tuesday’s business, it is proposed that:
1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:
(i) the Dáil may sit later than 10.32 p.m.; and
(ii) the time allotted to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for the Motion re Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, private members’ business, Parliamentary Questions to the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, and topical issues;
2. the proceedings on the Social Welfare (Liable Relatives and Child Maintenance) Bill 2023 Motion to Instruct the Committee shall be taken without debate; and
3. the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the Motion re Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory:
(i) the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours and 27 minutes;
(ii) the speeches shall not exceed 137 minutes, and the arrangements for that time shall be in accordance with the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023;
(iii) following the speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and
(iv) members may share time.
In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that:
1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:
(i) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m., but shall in any event adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time;
(ii) the first item of Government business, namely, the Statements post European Council meeting of 14th-15th December, pursuant to Standing Order 124, shall be taken at the time when the SOS pursuant to Standing Order 25(1) would normally be taken, and the SOS shall be taken immediately following the statements; and
(iii) the weekly division time may be taken later than 8.45 p.m., and shall in any event be taken on the interruption or conclusion of proceedings on the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023;
2. the Statements post European Council meeting of 14th-15th December, pursuant to Standing Order 124, shall not exceed 127 minutes, and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:
(i) the statements shall not exceed 102 minutes, and the arrangements for that time shall be in accordance with those agreed by the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September 2023;
(ii) following the statements, questions and answers shall be taken for 20 minutes;
(iii) on the conclusion of the questions and answers, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed five minutes; and
(iv) members may share time;
3. the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the Motion re Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces:
(i) the proceedings shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour and 52 minutes;
(ii) the speeches shall not exceed 102 minutes, and the arrangements for that time shall be in accordance with the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023;
(iii) following the speeches, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and
(iv) members may share time;
4. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Digital Services Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after one hour by one question which shall be put from the Chair and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and
5. the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9.14 p.m. or after 1 hour and 30 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday.
In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that:
1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the extent that topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the interruption or conclusion of Government business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2023, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;
2. the Statements on United Kingdom Import Controls shall not exceed 112 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:
(i) the statements shall not exceed 102 minutes, and the arrangements for that time shall be in accordance with the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and the Resolution of the Dáil of 20th September, 2023;
(ii) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and
(iii) members may share time; and
3. the proceedings on Second Stage of the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 6.30 p.m. or after 2 hours and 56 minutes, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Thursday.
Comment on this
It is not agreed.
Comment on this
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We need to see the plans of the Government on immigration and housing refugees. Each week we are told that they are just being worked on, but we need to see the facts, figures and timelines on this. There are more than 600 IPAS applicants who are currently on our streets who are facing sub-zero temperatures or storm after storm and we need to see the plan for how the Government will provide them with accommodation. We hear about reception and integration centres. Where are the plans for those? These have been talked about for two or three years now. When will the Government get its act together and come up with a feasible and deliverable plan to deal with this issue? We need statements from the Government on this as soon as possible.
Comment on this
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Yesterday we saw a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court in the case of Johnny O'Meara. I commend the courage of Johnny O'Meara in challenging the inequality in law relating to cohabiting couples and to note that judgement. I also note that the Government is committed to passing legislative change to give effect to that ruling to ensure cohabitees in the tragic circumstances of Johnny O'Meara and his children will be covered by social protection measures. Will the Taoiseach give us a timeline for the bringing in of the necessary legislative measures? In particular, will the Government do this by way of amendments to the social welfare Bill currently going through the Oireachtas?
Comment on this
I welcome the decision of the Government, albeit belated, to concede to a debate on Gaza that we asked for. I object that the Government motion in this has only come out in the past 20 minutes or so and we have been given five minutes from now to put in amendments. This is completely unacceptable, especially given the failure of the Government to accede to the request of those concerned about Israel's genocide to actively and publicly support South Africa's action against Israel for genocide in Gaza.
I also express my concern about reports in the newspapers over recent days about comments made by the Ceann Comhairle to the effect that the left are somehow responsible for a rise in antisemitism. Those comments need to be clarified. It is completely baseless to suggest-----
Comment on this
-----the left who criticise Israel for apartheid are somehow guilty of antisemitism.