I move: "That the Seanad do now adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026."
Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad
I move amendment No. 1:
That the Seanad do now adjourn until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.
We are a friendly parliament. We have all committed to the women's caucus and to having a family-friendly parliament. On Wednesday we met here in the middle of the day and it worked very well. People have homes to go to. We do not all live in rural Ireland. People live in the urban spaces here and they have commitments. All I propose is a simple measure that we meet at 1 p.m. as opposed to 2.30 p.m. We are well paid and we have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of legislation to get through and I think it is a reasonable measure. It is ultimately a matter for the House but we cannot continue to talk about a family-friendly parliament and at the same time object to coming to work an hour earlier. All I am asking is that we meet here next Tuesday at 1 p.m. as opposed to 2.30 p.m.
I second the amendment.
I am sure all Members here work very early on a Tuesday, from 8 a.m. or whenever else, and there are those of us who have to drive up from rural Ireland. I am quite happy with a 2.30 p.m. start next Tuesday. We take these from week to week; sometimes there is a 2 p.m. start and sometimes there is a 1 p.m. start. This week there was a 1 p.m. start to facilitate the International Protection Bill and we thought we would have a later sitting. I am quite happy to keep this under review but as it stands I propose a 2.30 p.m. start next Tuesday.
Amendment put:
The Seanad divided: Tá, 17; Níl, 23.
Tá
- Andrews, Chris.
- Boyhan, Victor.
- Clonan, Tom.
- Collins, Joanne.
- Harmon, Laura.
- Higgins, Alice-Mary.
- Keogan, Sharon.
- McCarthy, Aubrey.
- McCormack, Maria.
- McDowell, Michael.
- Mullen, Rónán.
- Murphy, Conor.
- Noonan, Malcolm.
- O'Reilly, Sarah.
- Ruane, Lynn.
- Ryan, Nicole.
- Tully, Pauline.
Níl
- Ahearn, Garret.
- Byrne, Cathal.
- Casey, Pat.
- Clifford-Lee, Lorraine.
- Comyn, Alison.
- Costello, Teresa.
- Crowe, Ollie.
- Duffy, Mark.
- Fitzpatrick, Mary.
- Flaherty, Joe.
- Gallagher, Robbie.
- Kelleher, Garret.
- Kennelly, Mike.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Murphy, P. J.
- Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
- Nelson Murray, Linda.
- O'Donovan, Noel.
- O'Loughlin, Fiona.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Ryan, Dee.
- Scahill, Gareth.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Victor Boyhan and Michael McDowell; Níl, Senators Garret Ahearn and Pat Casey.
Amendment declared lost.
Question, "That the Seanad do now adjourn until 2.30. p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026", put and declared carried.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar athló ar 4.30 p.m. go dtí 2.30 p.m., Dé Máirt, an 24 Márta 2026.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.