Mattie McGrath outlines Dáil business and time limits
Mattie McGrath outlined the Dáil's scheduled business as set out in the Business Committee report dated 5 December 2019. He proposed specific timings and procedural rules for motions, statements and divisions, including time limits for ministers, spokespeople and other members.
Main motions and items
The speaker listed key items to be taken by the Dáil, including motion re-proposed approval of the Universities Act 1997, section 54-3 University Autorisation Order 2019 (item 14) and the Planning and Development Amendment Regulations 2019 (item 15). He recorded that the motion for re-appointment of a member of the Policing Authority (item 16) shall be taken without a vote and without a debate. Bills scheduled to conclude within set time limits include the Winfrey's Fair Winfrey Bill 2019 (item 64) and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2019 (item 65), each to conclude within two hours.
Estimates and divisions
The Motionary Supplementary Estimates (item 17) were scheduled to commence after questions on promised legislation, conclude within 45 minutes and be followed immediately by the weekly divisions. The estimates will be moved together and decided by one question. Speeches on the estimates are confined to a single round and time limits were specified for ministers, spokespeople and other members.
Statements on reports, councils and social issues
Several statement items were allocated strict time controls: the OECD report on SMEs and entrepreneurship policy in Ireland (item 38) and pre-European Council statements for the 12th and 13th of December (item 39) were scheduled with set durations and single-round structures. Statements on domestic violence (item 41) and racism affecting ethnic minorities in Ireland (item 42) were each allocated 10 minutes for a minister or main spokesperson, with a 5-minute ministerial response and shared time for other members.
Timing, rounds and shared time rules
Across the business, speeches were generally confined to a single round with most ministers or main spokespeople limited to 10 minutes and other members to 5 minutes; ministers or ministers of state were repeatedly allocated 5-minute responses. The record also noted that should a division be in progress at 8pm, private members' business would be taken for two hours on conclusion of the division, and further procedural sequencing was set out for Taoiseach's business and other items.
Interjections and record notes
The transcript records several interjections and verbal notes, including the phrases Iver Cather, Iver Hain, Iver Dough, Goedemanggut and Concord, which appear in the spoken record alongside the formal business schedule.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
The business this week shall be as set out in the report of the business committee dated 5th December 19. In relation to today's business, it is proposed that it will remain the item 14, motion re-proposed approval by Dail Eireann of the Universities Act 1997, section 54-3, University Autorisation Order 2019. Back from committee. Item 15, motion re-proposed approval by Dail Eireann of the Planning and Development Amendment Regulations 2019. Back from committee. Item 16, motion re-appointment of a member of the Policing Authority shall be taken without a vote, without a debate. In relation to item 38, statements on the OECD report, SMEs and the entrepreneurship policy in Ireland, the statements of a minister or a minister of state and the main spokesman of the parties and groups or a member nominated in their state shall not exceed 10 minutes each, with 5 minutes for all other members. A 5-minute response from a minister or a minister of state and all other members may share time. Item 3, should the division be in progress at 8pm, private members' business shall be taken for 2 hours on the conclusion of the division and it all shall be done on the conclusion of the private members' business. And, Iver Cather. Item 64, Winfrey's Fair Winfrey's Fair Winfrey Bill 2019, second stage, shall conclude within 2 hours. In relation to Winfrey's business, it is proposed that, Iver Hain, item 39, statements pre-European Council meeting of the 12th and 13th of December, pursuant to Standing Orders 111, shall commence immediately after Taoiseach's questions and conclude within 85 minutes and shall be followed immediately by the SOS. Statement shall be confined to a single round from a minister or a minister of state and the main spokesperson for the parties or groups or a member nominated in their state shall not exceed 10 minutes each, with a 5-minute response from a minister or a minister of state, and all members may share time. Iver Dough. In relation to Item 41, statements on domestic violence, the statements of a minister or a minister of state, the main spokesperson for parties or groups or a member nominated in their state, shall not exceed 10 minutes each, with a 5-minute response from a minister or a minister of state, and all members may share time. Item 65, Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill 2019, second stage, shall conclude within two hours. In relation to Taoiseach's business, it is reported that, Item 17, Motionary Supplementary Estimates, shall commence after questions on promised legislation and shall conclude within 45 minutes and shall be followed immediately by the weekly divisions. The estimates shall be moved together and decided by one question. Speeches will be confined to a single round from a minister or a minister of state and the main spokesperson for the parties or groups or a member nominated in their state and shall not exceed 5 minutes each, with a 5-minute response from a minister or a minister of state, and members may share time. Iver Dough. In relation to Item 42, statements on racism affecting ethnic minorities in Ireland, the statements of a minister or a minister of state and the main spokespersons or parties and groups or a member nominated in their state, shall not exceed 10 minutes each, with a 5-minute response from a minister or a minister of state, and all members may share time. Goedemanggut. Thanks, Concord. Thank you.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
