Order of Business
The scheduled business is outlined, followed by light political commentary and brief interjections about the impending Cabinet changes.
The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the draft Protection of Young Persons (Employment) (Exclusion of Workers in the Fishing and Shipping Sectors) Regulations 2014, back from committee, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m. and to adjourn not later than 1.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 3, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.30 p.m. and to adjourn no later than 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 4, Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 2.30 p.m.
Comment on this
There is a Chinese proverb that states "May you live in interesting times", which I discovered some years ago is an insult, not an aspiration. Politically, we are living in very interesting times. In England, there is a practice that when a barrister is being promoted to the bench, he or she does not receive a letter or a telephone call but actually gets what is called a tap on the shoulder. I have no doubt but that many Members of both Houses are wandering around today, waiting for the tap on the shoulder. It is a great honour for people to be elected to public office in the first instance and then to be promoted to higher office and, consequently, Members on this side of the House wish every success to those who will be among that lucky few. However, I am sure Members will deal with that issue on another day.
Yesterday, several thousand people converged on Leinster House for a rally - I use the word "rally" as it was not a protest as such - of rural Ireland, that is, of the ordinary, decent, hard-working people of rural Ireland who in many cases are finding their jobs and communities to be under severe threat as a result of the inaction of the Government in not coming up with a clear solution to and resolution of the ongoing controversy surrounding the future of the county development boards. I compliment all those who organised the rally and acknowledge that Mr. Jack Roche from Cork, who has been a pioneer of the promotion of rural values for many decades, was one of its leaders.
