Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1940 > Committee on Procedure and Privileges > Report No. 01 - Amendments to Standing Orders (Time limit to debate on private members' motions)

FIRST REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES.

Amendment of Standing Orders.

1. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges has had under consideration the desirability of ensuring that private Deputies’ motions will be considered by the Dáil within a reasonable period of their being tabled.

2. The Committee is of opinion that, as a measure to achieve this end, a specific time-limit should be imposed in respect of each motion proposed by a private Deputy and accordingly recommends the adoption of the following Standing Order :—

80 A.—The time allowed for the debate on a motion proposed by a private member, other than a motion relating to any stage of a Bill, shall not exceed a period of three hours in the aggregate. At the expiration of the said period, if the proceedings have not previously been concluded, the Ceann Comhairle shall put forthwith the question or questions necessary to bring to a conclusion the proceedings on the motion and on any amendment thereto.

PROINNSIAS O FATHAIGH,

Chairman.

7th November, 1940.