The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and conclude not later than 3.45 p.m.; No. 2, Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 – Committee Stage (Resumed), to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude not later than 6 p.m.; and No. 3, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6 p.m., with the contribution of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and to conclude at 8 p.m.

What time is the Minister to be called?

Which Minister?

The Minister attending for the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill.

Yes, I am referring to the health insurance legislation.

The Minister shall be called not later than 7.50 p.m.

Have I the floor, a Chathaoirligh?

Yes.

The Cathaoirleach has not started the clock, excellent. I cannot agree to the Order of Business. What is the rationale for taking Committee and Remaining Stages of the Finance Bill? Yesterday we had a decent Second Stage debate with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes. We have a number of substantial amendments tabled and we will have no-----

Recommendations.

We have a number of Committee Stage recommendations.

Wrong constitutionally.

Senator Darragh O'Brien please, without interruption.

As I said yesterday, as indicated-----

I am trying to be as helpful as ever.

What?

Senator Darragh O'Brien please, without interruption.

Is Senator Paul Coghlan finished? It is not sensible to guillotine the Bill. The Leader is proposing to shut down a debate on the Finance Bill. Yesterday, we highlighted that the Bill contains some serious measures. For example, an increase in the pension levy, a reduction in tax relief on health insurance and a massive change in the one-parent tax credit that will affect about 15,000 families.

Effectively, Committee and Remaining Stages, will be bundled together and, if so, we will have to oppose that. It should be open to us on Report Stage of a Bill, such as this, to resubmit recommendations and to have a proper and reasoned debate. I will raise the issue directly with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan.

Will the Leader confirm whether the Minister, Deputy Noonan, or the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, will take the remainder of the Bill? We had the Minister here yesterday for the Credit Reporting Bill 2012 which was not contentious in any shape or form and was agreed by all parties and the Minister of State came in to take the Finance Bill. I am aware the Minister is busy but I would like to know if the Minister will be here today. We will oppose the Order of Business on the basis that Committee and Remaining Stages are being put through in one sitting.

Has the Leader made any progress with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of the scheduling of the pyrite Bill? Does he still intend to take all Stages of that Bill on Monday evening? I think it is a Bill on which we can agree. We have done much work on it and I have sought feedback from residents who are affected. I am not trying to be difficult next week. We have not yet seen the Bill but would like to see it. I am sure it is fine but we should be able to debate it properly rather than it being dealt with in an all Stages format. I agree with the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, that it is important it is passed before Christmas and we will facilitate that. However, I do not want all Stages taken on Monday.

Is the Senator opposing the Order of Business or proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?

I am opposing the Order of Business and everybody knows the reason.

I spoke yesterday in support of Senator O'Brien on the pyrite Bill. It is important that we do not simply rush through all Stages of the Bill in one sitting, just because it is welcomed. Indeed, it is welcomed by both sides of the House and, in principle, it is a good idea. I know the Leader has made every effort, particularly with the Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013, to ensure we have adequate time for debate, particularly on Committee and Report Stages.

I agree with the Senator that we had a very good Second Stage debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill last night. I was in the Chamber for most of it. It was very fair. I felt those on both sides of the House welcomed the job activation measures and the measures in it that will have the effect of boosting consumer confidence. We did also have a robust debate on section 7, on which amendments have been tabled. With the Finance (No. 2) Bill there are different reasons for urgency which the Leader will address. Where possible, we should seek to allow adequate time for debate on amendments. Of course, on the Finance (No. 2) Bill there are only recommendations. It is a very different type of Bill.

I welcome the fact that this weekend sees the exit from the bailout. That issue was discussed last night during the debate on the Finance Bill. It is an historic moment when we will finally see the restoration of our economic sovereignty. The good news of that should boost consumer confidence in the run up to and during the Christmas season. While we will have the opportunity for more debates on the economy in the new year, I thought it was worth mentioning that at this stage, and I know others will.

I call for a debate in the new year on the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on prostitution. Yesterday, further correspondence was published by the Minister and the committee, following on from the report, in which the committee recommended that the Irish law on prostitution be changed to reflect the Swedish approach, whereby only the purchase of prostitution is criminalised and not the sale. Recently, the French legislature moved to make the same change. A number of countries are looking at this model. The Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter, raised some questions with the committee and the committee has responded. Those communications are now published and form a very useful addendum to the report. Colleagues will be interested in this, given that the report was initiated in this House in Private Members' business by the Independent Senators. It would be great if we could have that debate in the new year, perhaps after the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality has met the Minister to discuss his correspondence.

I call for a debate in the new year on school patronage. We had that debate previously. However, there is a passionate article by Kitty Holland in today's edition of The Irish Times in which she describes the serious difficulties parents whose children are not baptised still face where schools run by religious orders or different religions have the right, in law, to refuse those children or to give priority to children of particular religions. That has not changed, despite the strenuous attempts by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, to move forward a model where there is greater diversity and patronage and where parental choice is respected more adequately. I call for a debate in the new year to hear what progress has been made on this issue.