It is proposed to take the business as on the Order Paper, in the following order:—No. 2—Votes 61 to 70—and No. 3; the questions to be taken at 3 o'clock.
Order of Business.
Questions will be taken at 3 o'clock as long as the Dáil sits on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. I take it as ordered accordingly?
Agreed, and ordered accordingly.
Why are the questions not taken on the sitting of the House, in the old-fashioned way?
I understand it is due to the difficulty in the preparation of replies. Furthermore, some members on all sides of the House have expressed a desire to have the questions taken at 3 o'clock.
Is this due to the decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges—is it part of the Committee's proposal?
It was not part of the proposal. It was a suggestion.
Mr. Lynch
I should like to know what has happened the proposition with regard to future sittings, and the curtailment of speeches. I understood there was some proposal made after I left on the occasion of our last meeting. I believe some proposal was introduced following a meeting of the leaders of all Parties, some suggestion to the effect that the recommendation already sent forward by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges should be adopted, with some slight alteration relating to the curtailment of speeches.
It was announced in the House. There was one dissentient. I assume that the arrangement applies to Estimates only.
Mr. Lynch
That the speeches be curtailed as recommended?
Yes.
Mr. Lynch
I am glad Deputy Dillon is here to recommend that to the House.
It was a purely voluntary arrangement.
It was announced as a gentleman's agreement.
A purely voluntary arrangement, leaving with the Ceann Comhairle no discretion whatever to enforce it. It is open to any individual Deputy who chooses to do so, to assert his Constitutional rights.
I suppose there would be no objection to the Ceann Comhairle gently reminding Deputies that 20 minutes have passed.
No, provided a Deputy has the liberty to assert his Constitutional rights.
Mr. Lynch
Then we may take it the thing is all a "cod"—that if a Deputy persists in going beyond 20 minutes he cannot be stopped from doing so. If that is the position, God help us.
Judging by previous performances, will this agreement bind Deputy McGilligan?
That does not arise, as it is not an order.