Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 24 Apr 1925

Vol. 11 No. 3

BUSINESS OF THE DAIL.

The PRESIDENT

I desire to inform the Dáil that I met the Committee on Privileges this morning and entered into a provisional agreement with them, for a month, that the Government should take private members' time on Wednesday evenings, and that no questions, except in cases of urgency, by private notice, would be taken on Fridays. The Estimates will be taken on Wednesday and Thursday. It was decided that they be taken in the following order on Wednesday:—

Estimate No. 11 (Public Works and Buildings).

Estimate No. 10 (Public Works Office).

Estimate No. 37 (General Register Office).

Estimate No. 38 (Dundrum Asylum).

Estimate No. 40 (Hospitals and Charities).

On Thursday the order will be:—

Estimate No. 55 (Office of the Minister for Fisheries).

Estimate No. 59 (Department of External Affairs).

Estimate No. 60 (League of Nations).

Estimate No. 30 (Gárda Síochána).

Estimate No. 31 (General Prisons Board).

Estimate No. 32 (District Court).

Estimate No. 33 (Supreme Court and High Court of Justice).

The Committee will meet again next week and will furnish a list of Estimates desired to be taken the following week. This proposal, as it stands, allows private members two hours each Friday, and for legislation approximately, seven hours each week, which includes financial legislation. This programme contemplates adjournment on the 26th June, and it is proposed to take stock of the position at the end of three or four weeks with a view to seeing what legislation we must push to a conclusion and what measures may remain over in one stage or another until the Autumn Session.

Mr. C. HOGAN

I am afraid we could not very well agree to taking private members' time next week on Wednesday and Friday. Deputy Baxter has a motion down of very great import and consequence to large sections of the agricultural community. Inasmuch as it is essentially a question of relief, we want the question debated. I do not like the idea of surrendering private members' time, and we require at least time for that motion. It is urgent.

MINISTER for FINANCE (Mr. Blythe)

I would like to point out that if the Resolution before us to-day be passed, we would propose to take the Report Stage on Wednesday week. That would, I think, give sufficient time for all amendments. I do not like to move that we sit late to-day if it can be avoided, but I think we ought to dispose of Resolution 13 to-day. If there was general agreement that when we reached the end of our time, the Vote on the Motion would be allowed to be taken, I would not move to sit late. Otherwise, I think I shall have to move that we sit late this evening.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Apart from the question of Deputy Baxter's motion, the arrangement made with the Committee on Privileges was that Estimates be taken every Wednesday and Thursday. The Minister for Finance now points out that it will be necessary to take the Report Stage of the Financial Resolutions on Wednesday week. These Resolutions must be reported within a certain time. He proposes, if the Committee finishes to-day, to take the Report Stage on next Wednesday week, so that for that particular week the Financial Resolutions will take the place of the Estimates. That is inevitable. With regard to Resolution 13, the Minister desires to know whether it is agreed that the question be put before four o'clock. If that is not agreed, he will, he states, move to sit late. Is there any objection to the question being put before four o'clock?

Mr. JOHNSON

Is that an invitation to carry on until four o'clock?

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

No. It merely means that if it is put to me before four o'clock that the question should be put, I will not have to decide whether it should or should not.

Mr. HEFFERNAN

Does that mean that whether Deputies have finished speaking or not they must allow the motion to be put?

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

Yes.

Mr. HEFFERNAN

Is it not possible that there are many Deputies who have not spoken and may not get time to speak if the Vote be taken at four o'clock?

Captain REDMOND

There are very few Deputies who have not spoken.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

There may be Deputies who desire to speak to-day but it must be remembered that on Wednesday week these questions will all arise again. Their opportunity will not, therefore, be finally lost. I only want to point out to the Dáil that if it is decided now by agreement that the Minister may move before four o'clock to put the question, it relieves me of any responsibility of deciding whether that is to be done or not.

Mr. HEFFERNAN

I must take exception to that. I think there are a number of Deputies who may wish to speak and who could not get finished by four o'clock.

Mr. BLYTHE

Then I move that we sit later than four o'clock, and that the adjournment be taken not later than 10.30 p.m.

Question put and agreed to.

The PRESIDENT

With regard to Deputy Baxter's motion, I did not intend to run against that. The Estimates would be dealt with in the ordinary course at 8.30 p.m., and I would then take Deputy Baxter's motion, giving him two hours, until 10.30.

Mr. BAXTER

With regard to this motion, I had it down for Wednesday, but owing to the unavoidable and regrettable absence of the Minister for Agriculture, I was communicated with this day week and asked to postpone the motion until next Wednesday. I replied from home to the Minister that I would agree to that course, and I expected the motion to come on then. I and our party understood that it was coming on on Wednesday next, and I agreed to postpone it on that condition. I think it is only fair that that arrangement should be permitted to stand.

The PRESIDENT

Is the Deputy agreeable to take it to-day? If he were we could dispose of it to-day, otherwise I will endeavour to see if it is possible to give time for its consideration next week, but my undertaking with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges postulates that I must devote ten hours to Estimates next week.

Mr. BAXTER

I would be prepared to take it to-day after two o'clock, at the time when I am entitled to take it.

Mr. HEFFERNAN

Does it not appear on the Order Paper for Wednesday?

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

You could take it without notice if agreed.

Mr. BAXTER

I would prefer to let it stand until Wednesday, and, perhaps, the Minister would also prefer that.

The PRESIDENT

Very good, but I must keep my agreement with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

AN CEANN COMHAIRLE

The motion can be taken on Wednesday next at private members' time.