I move that the Dáil adjourn until Wednesday, November 11th.
SHANNON ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME. - ADJOURNMENT OF THE DÁIL.
Would the President say, before adjourning, if the Government has any policy to enunciate next week in connection with the unemployment that prevails in the country, and if he could give us a day to debate this important question?
Could the President say if it is the intention of the Government to introduce an Unemployment Insurance Bill, or if it is the intention to grant any extension of benefit to persons under the Act, before the Dáil adjourns for Christmas?
I suggest that that question should be put to the Minister for Industry and Commerce when he returns. An opportunity would be afforded to have the matter discussed some day next week. That would mean that the Education Estimates might have to be held over for one day next week if the discussion lasts over two days.
I want to know if the President could give some Government time, say, next week, for dealing with the whole position of agriculture, with special reference to the situation in the West of Ireland.
I do not think it would be possible to give time next week. I would consider the matter for the following week if the Deputy would repeat the question.
I urge upon the Ministry that having brought Deputies here and having regard to the importance of the questions raised by Deputies Hogan, Morrissey and Corish, these questions should be considered as they demand. The Deputies being here, an opportunity should be provided for discussing these matters, to-morrow, for instance. It is quite wrong, I suggest, to bring Deputies here when matters of urgency are uppermost in the minds of the country, and then disperse without giving any consideration to them.
I think they will not lose in their importance or in the manner of dealing with them by remaining over for another week.
They have remained over since July and I can quite understand in the present state of mind that they can remain over for another fortnight, or a month or six months. Really, I think we should not discuss them in this way, but that Deputies should be provided with the opportunity this week, as Ministers are available. The Minister for Agriculture is not looking after the Boundary Question and no doubt he will be eager to reply to Deputy Connor Hogan and still more so to Deputy Heffernan, if the Deputy is prepared to come up to the scratch again.
I wish to support Deputy Johnson's remarks. Apart altogether from the possibility of a duel between the Minister for Agriculture and myself, bringing us up here for one day is, I think, to say the least of it, treating members who have come long distances from the country lightly. To give an instance, our Party has arranged for meetings in the city here to-morrow and the day afterwards. Our members have been called up. I am aware that the Government is not responsible for our Party meetings, but when we came up here we thought we would be here for at least three days. I am perfectly willing to take part in a discussion on the present condition of agriculture, with special reference to recent pronouncements made by Ministers. I think it is time we had an official pronouncement from a responsible Minister on this matter, and we should know the views of the Government with regard to the attitude they are going to take in regard to agriculture in the future. I might say my constituents are very considerably perturbed by certain rumours which are going round as to the possibility of certain developments in regard to Government policy towards agriculture, and to-morrow is not too soon to have a pronouncement from the Government benches in regard to this matter.
I observe, with great pleasure, that there is great unanimity in the part of the Farmers' Party here.
There always is.
I would be much impressed if I discovered the same unanimity amongst the members of a larger party in this House. I have heard with great sympathy that the Farmers' Party has made arrangements for several meetings this week, but I think it is obvious, from what I said, to those of them who are in town, that we did not intend to meet this week. Those of them who are not in town can be informed and they may be saved the necessity of coming up. With regard to the other question, I regret that I cannot see my way to agree to the proposal for a discussion on that matter this week, but if on Thursday or Friday next week a motion is put down, I will undertake to give an opportunity of discussing it on Friday of next week and the agricultural discussion can take place the week after.
Does the President not realise that there is great anxiety on the part of members on his own benches to discuss this matter of agricultural policy?
Yes, I believe so, but I believe that anxiety will not reach any greater degree of temperature within the next week.
Question put.
The Dáil divided. Tá, 39; Níl, 17.
Tá
- Earnán de Blaghd.
- Thomas Bolger.
- Séamus Breathnach.
- Seoirse de Bhulbh.
- Próinsias de Bulfin.
- Louis J. D'Alton.
- Máighréd Ní Choileáin, Bean Uí Dhrisceóil.
- Patrick J. Egan.
- Desmond Fitzgerald.
- Thomas Hennessy.
- John Hennigan.
- Liam Mac Cosgair.
- Pádraig Mac Fadáin.
- Seoirse Mac Niocaill.
- Liam Mac Sioghaird.
- Pádraig Mag Ualghairg.
- Martin M. Nally.
- John T. Nolan.
- Michael K. Noonan.
- Peadar O hAodha.
- Seán O Bruadair.
- Risteárd O Conaill.
- Parthalán O Conchubhair.
- Máirtín O Conalláin.
- Séamus O Cruadhlaoich.
- Eoghan O Dochartaigh.
- Séamus O Dóláin.
- Eamon O Dúgáin.
- Aindriú O Láimhín.
- Séamus O Leadáin.
- Fionán O Loingsigh.
- James O'Mara
- Pádraig O hOgáin (Gaillimh).
- Seán O Raghallaigh.
- Máirtín O Rodaigh.
- Seán O Súilleabháin.
- Mícheál O Tighearnaigh.
- Caoimhghín O hUigín.
- Liam Thrift.
Níl
- John Conlan.
- John Daly.
- Séamus Eabhróid.
- David Hall.
- Connor Hogan.
- Séamus Mac Cosgair.
- Tomás Mac Eoin.
- Risteárd Mac Fheorais.
- Pádraig Mac Fhlannchadha.
- Tomás de Nógla.
- Tomás O Conaill.
- Aodh O Cúlacháin.
- Liam O Daimhín.
- Mícheál O hIfearnáin.
- Domhnall O Muirgheasa.
- Tadhg O Murchadha.
- Pádraig O hOgáin (An Clár).
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Dolan and Sears. Níl, Deputies Corish and Morrissey.
Motion declared carried.
The Dáil adjourned at 8.20 p.m. until Wednesday, 11th November, at 3 p.m.