Verona Murphy

Time is up, Deputy.

I welcome Mr. Liam Conlon, MP for Beckenham and Penge in London, and his companions, who are in the Public Gallery. We have a lot of observers in the Gallery, including schoolchildren, and we welcome them all.

I thank the Deputy.

That concludes Other Members’ Questions. Before we move to Questions on Policy or Legislation, I welcome pupils from Tara Hill national school, Gorey, who are here as guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne, whom they will hear speaking in about ten minutes if they wait.

We are going to stick to the time.

That is no problem, Deputy, but in your time.

Now, for the students, Deputy Malcolm Byrne.

The Minister is speaking.

Do you have a question, Deputy?

Seanad Éireann has passed the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023, without amendment.

Is the Bill opposed?

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Before I call Deputy Lawlor, who is a Wexford man, I welcome a school from Ballymitty. Deputies Lawlor and Malcolm Byrne happen to be in the Chamber. The students from Ballymitty national school are here along with the principal, Ms Audrey McCarthy, and Ms Foley, Ms Bohanna and Ms Fitzharris, who are teachers there. As a primary school, they were on an Erasmus programme in Sweden recently. They ar…

I thank the Deputy. Deputy Connolly does not wish to contribute. Does Deputy McGuinness wish to withdraw the amendment?

Amendments Nos. 12 to 14, inclusive, have been ruled out of order.

Amendment No. 15 may be discussed with amendments Nos. 17 and 21.

Amendment No. 16 is as ord.

Amendment No. 18 is as ord.

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to Second Stage of the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025, taken on Tuesday, 8 April 2025. On the question, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2) that division must be taken now.

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding protecting the Irish economy against increasing trade tariffs. On Wednesday, 9 April, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.

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

Can we have the Whip from each party or those wishing to record dissent, for 30 seconds?

Thank you, Deputy McDonald. That is 30 seconds, and your amendment is moved.

I call Deputy Duncan Smith.

That is fine, Deputy. In future I will call on you to speak and then ask the leader to move the amendment when the others have spoken.