The President granted leave of absence to Sen. the Hon. Dr. Lenny Saith. Mr. Foster Cummings was appointed a Senator during the absence of Sen. Dr. Saith.

The President of the Senate announced the passing of Dr. Wahid Ali, former President of the Senate, on August 9, 2008 at the age of 80. Tribute was paid to Dr. Ali by the Leader of Government Business (Sen. the Hon. Conrad Enill), Sen. Wade Mark, Sen. Prof. Ramesh Deosaran and the President of the Senate (Sen. the Hon. Danny Montano).

Tribute was paid to former Senator Mahadeo Jagmohan, who served as a Senator between 1994 and 2000 by Sen. Linus Rogers, Senator Wade Mark, Sen. Gail Merhair and Sen. the Hon. Danny Montano. Mr. Jagmohan passed away in August 2008 after a long battle with cancer.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and the Prison Service (Amendment) Bill, 2008, which were passed in the House of Representatives on 5 September 2008, were read a first time in the Senate.

11 Papers were be laid, nine in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, one in the name of the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and one in the name of the Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

14 Questions qualify for oral answer. Question time was, by leave, extended to 2:30 p.m. Seven questions (26, 28, 86, 89-91, 100) were answered and the rest deferred. See the Order Paper for details.

Nine Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper for details.

The Minister in the Ministry of Finance (Sen. the Hon. Mariano Browne) moved a Motion asking the House to increase borrowing under the Development Loans Act. This Motion was approved in the House of Representatives on July 11, 2008. Some six Senators intervened in the debate before the Minister commenced his wind-up.

Debate began on a Private Motion in the name of Senator Wade Mark which asks the Senate to annul the Regional Health Authorities (Conduct) Regulations, 2008, which were laid in the Senate on Tuesday July 1, 2008. Following Senator Mark, some five Senators made contributions on the Motion before debate was suspended.

At its next sitting, the Senate will debate the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and will continue debate on the Private Motion to annul the Regional Health Authorities (Conduct) Regulations, 2008.