Before proceeding with the business of the Order Paper I think it necessary to draw attention to the delay in the delivery of the Orders of the Day and the Questions. It is not easy to know who is at fault, but I gather that most of the Members did not receive their Orders of the Day or the Question Paper for to-day until this morning. In my own case my envelope bears the post-mark "10 p.m., 13th November, Rathmines D.O.," and these were only delivered in the same township this morning. Others I gather bearing the same mark were delivered this morning though posted yesterday, and there are some Members I understand who did not receive their envelopes until 1 o'clock to-day.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - DELAYS IN THE POST.
I quite understand there is a considerable amount of confusion in the delivery of the post in Dublin since the burning of the Rink. It will be readily understood that the centre of collection and distribution having been destroyed it will take a considerable time to provide an adequate substitute, and while I can readily appreciate the grievance of which Deputy Johnson complains I quite understand that it goes much further to the extent of seriously interfering with the business community. It is due to circumstances over which we have no control at the moment. We are doing our best to remedy it, and I anticipate that in the next week or so every possible cause of complaint will have passed away.
I would suggest to An Ceann Comhairle or the Clerk of the Dáil that perhaps temporary arrangements could be made to have papers delivered by hand until the postal matters are put right. It is not reasonable to ask Members to come here and discuss important matters of which they have not got adequate notice. For instance the Estimates have only been received this morning and we are supposed to deal with them this afternoon. It is not reasonable to suppose that there could be adequate discussion without proper notification.
The Orders of the Day for to-day and copies of the Estimates were posted from the Clerk's office on Monday afternoon, and it was considered that they would be in the hands of Deputies yesterday morning. It was the earliest possible moment we could manage to send them out. If there is any difficulty about regular delivery by post I shall look into the question of having them delivered by hand.