I move:

Tuesday's business shall be:

- Motion re Nomination to Appoint the Deputy Police Ombudsman (without debate)

- Motion re Fourth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection (without debate)

- Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes).

Tuesday's private members' business shall be Motion re GPO and Moore Street regeneration as a 1916 Cultural Quarter, selected by Sinn Féin.

Wednesday's business shall be:

- Statements on All Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations (to adjourn after 1 hour and 30 minutes and resume on 9th July)

- Statements on the Middle East (not to exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes)

- Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 9.12 p.m. or after 2 hours, whichever is the later)

- Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025] (to conclude within 1 hour)

Wednesday’s private members' business shall be the Motion re Nursing Homes, selected by the Labour Party.

Thursday's business shall be:

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC*

- Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the transition out of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine*

*Four separate motions to be debated together and brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 32 minutes; question to be put on each motion separately

- Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes).

Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Attorney General) Bill 2023, sponsored by Deputy Ivana Bacik.

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:

(a) the only Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) which may be answered shall be those under the aegis of the Government Chief Whip, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Government business; and

(b) private members’ business may be taken earlier than 6.12 p.m. and shall in any event be taken on the conclusion of the Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business, namely, oral Parliamentary Questions to the Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and topical issues, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil;

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Nomination to Appoint the Deputy Police Ombudsman shall be taken without debate;

3. the proceedings on the Motion re Fourth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection shall be taken without debate; and

4. the Statements on the publication of the report of the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) 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

(c) members may share time.

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

1. the ordinary routine of business as set out in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent:

(a) the Dáil may sit later than 9.30 p.m. and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time; and

(b) the time allotted for Government Business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business, with consequential effect on the commencement time for the weekly division time, which may be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025];

2. the Statements on All Island Strategic Rail Review recommendations shall be interrupted and stand adjourned after 90 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) any speaking slots which are not reached may be taken on Wednesday, 9th July, 2025, in accordance with the agreed sequence; and

(c) members may share time;

3. the Statements on the Middle East shall not exceed 3 hours and 32 minutes and the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:

(a) the arrangements for the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the arrangements contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(b) 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

(c) members may share time;

4. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 shall be taken no earlier than 6.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned either at 9.12 p.m. or after 2 hours, whichever is the later, and shall not be resumed on Wednesday; and

5. the proceedings on Report and Final Stages of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 [changed from Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension) Bill 2025] shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 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 Social Protection.

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 conclusion of the Motions on Participation by Ireland in the Adoption and Application of New Proposals in the Field of Return of third-country nationals, International Protection and Temporary Protection, with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Ministers and Secretaries (Attorney General) Bill 2023 and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and

2. the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level, the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the application of the ‘safe third country’ concept, the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Regulation establishing a common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union and repealing Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Council Directive 2001/40/EC and Council Decision 2004/191/EC, and the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the transition out of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 3 hours and 32 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto:

(a) the four motions shall be debated together, with separate questions put on all proceedings thereon;

(b) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be in accordance with those contained in the table immediately below (to be read across, not down);

(c) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 22 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes, whereupon proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion; and

(d) members may share time.

Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to?

No. Last Friday, on Highland Radio, the Minister of State, Deputy Marian Harkin, stated that she secured a surgical hub for Sligo University Hospital as part of the Lowry Independents' negotiations for Government. In Donegal, we have been standing together to look at a surgical hub. Our services are in absolute crisis and our emergency Department is threatened. Will the Minister clarify if a deal has been done with the Lowry Independents for Sligo University Hospital to have a surgical hub? Is the Government seriously looking at a surgical hub in Letterkenny?

After a very successful Pride at the weekend, and given the fact that we are coming up to ten years of the Gender Recognition Act being passed, I am calling for statements on Pride, particularly regarding the issues in trans healthcare and the fact people have to go abroad when they should not have to.

We need to have statements today on higher education, especially on the confusion regarding fees. Since the announcement, a lot of parents have told me that they are having discussions around their tables about whether their child will go to college and whether they can afford to send the child to college or not. That is not a discussion that families should have. Our children and young people want to educate themselves. We need to have statements in this House. I have been asking for statements on education regarding class sizes and capitation grants at primary level, but this relates to higher level.

Under Standing Order 35(3), I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business-----

We are not there yet, Deputy. We will hear Members dissenting first.

I support for the call for statements on Pride. I also call for a debate and a motion to be brought forward by the Government, if it wants us to sign up to this European armament programme called SAFE. It is part of ReArm Europe, and entails €150 billion worth of loans, effectively to be paid for by the public into the pockets of the armaments industry in Europe. It was announced on Friday that the Irish Government and State intends to participate, but it does not intend to bring it before the Dáil for a vote or a debate. Surely, at the very least, people should have the right to vote on whether we participate in this arms race.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in relation to statements on LNG. It was reported today that An Coimisiún Pleanála has written to the Minister seeking a clear position from Government on commercial LNG. It is time for the Government to stop talking out of both sides of its mouth with regard to LNG. We need clarity on that.

Hear, hear.

I thank the Whips for the issues they have raised-----

I am sorry to interrupt the Chief Whip. Members, please put your phones on silent. That is about the fourth mobile phone to go off in session. The Chief Whip, without interruption, please.

I thank the Whips for the issues they have raised. I will take on board everything that has been raised, but we had a meeting of the Business Committee last Thursday morning. The Ceann Comhairle was present at the meeting. Apart from one issue with regard to the time allocated, the Order of Business for this week was agreed.

I will, however, take on board comments that have been made. There will be statements on the Middle East tomorrow afternoon for three and a half hours. Next week there will also be post-European Council statements, which have been scheduled in. I agree wholeheartedly on having statements in the House on Pride and transgender healthcare. I would welcome that very much. I will work with the Whips and with my office to see what we can fit in for next week but as everybody knows there is only a limited amount of time. If some of the various parties and groupings would like to use their Private Members' time for some of these issues, they would be more than welcome.

What about the surgical hub issue?

And the LNG issue.

I am sorry Deputy.

There was no response on it.

Sorry, Deputies, the Chief Whip-----

It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

It absolutely is.

I will ask the Chief Whip if she wishes to address Deputy Mac Lochlainn.

Apologies. Deputy McAuliffe seems to be responding instead of the Ceann Comhairle.

What was stated on Highland Radio in Donegal last week is not a matter for the Order of Business but------

Of course it is.

Sorry, Deputy.

-----we can discuss having health statements, if the Deputy so wishes, on the issue. An amendment to the Order of Business was moved under Standing Order 35(3). I will not be accepting the amendment today.

I thank the Minister of State.