Could the Vice-President say in what order the business will be taken to-day?
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Before the Vice-President answers that question, may I ask him whether the Executive Council have yet decided to nominate a Minister for Education, and if so, what that nomination is to be?
The business will be taken in the order in which it appears on the Order Paper, leaving out items 8 and 9. Private Members' business will come on at the proper time. If there is the consent of the Dáil we would move before item No. 1 that leave be given to introduce the following supplementary estimate for the service of the year ending on 31st day of March, 1926—namely, Vote No. 19 (Relief Scheme). If the consent of the Dáil is given the Minister for Finance will move that motion.
With regard to Deputy Redmond's question, the President, I think, would not yet be in a position to make any announcement on that matter, but it is possible that an announcement will be made to the Dáil before the adjournment.
Thank you.
Was there not an undertaking given to Deputy Lyons that his motion would be taken before 7 o'clock to-day in consideration of his not pressing it last week?
Would the Minister say if the School Attendance Bill will be taken to-day?
It is not being taken to-day.
Could the Vice-President say if it will be taken this side of Christmas?
I am not sure, but I do not think so.
Would it not be advisable that the School Attendance Bill should be left over until the new Minister for Education has been appointed? We already have had two Ministers dealing with this Bill.
That point will arise when we come to number 8 on the Order Paper. We will have to discharge Orders 8 and 9 and fix them for a given day. If the Minister could give any indication of the date that he proposes to take the School Attendance Bill it would settle that point.
I suggest the 12th January.
That means that the School Attendance Bill will be postponed until after Christmas, provided the consent of the House is given.
I desire to ask the Vice-President whether the Government intend to stick to their word and to the undertaking they gave in the Dáil last week. I hope that the undertaking given then will be fulfilled, and that my motion will be taken before 7 o'clock this evening. Surely, when the President gave his word that the motion was to be taken this evening before 7 o'clock it ought to be fulfilled.
It is rather important to clear up business coming to the end of a session. If the Deputy would be satisfied to take his motion at 6.30 this evening we might try and finish the other items before that.
The real point in favour of Deputy Lyons is this: not that his motion could be taken before 7 o'clock this evening, but that if the consideration of his motion is not completed this evening it should be taken to-morrow instead of on Friday, if that were agreed to. The important point is whether it will be taken to-morrow.
We are prepared to take it to-morrow.
Very well, that settles that.
Would not the motion asking for leave to introduce a supplementary estimate for relief purposes have a bearing on Deputy Lyons' motion? If the Minister for Finance is generous enough, and if he would indicate to us the amount that he proposes to provide for the relief of unemployment we might, I think, agree to drop Deputy Lyons' motion.
There is a much wider issue in Deputy Lyons' motion. He wants legislation introduced to subsidise existing industries. I do not know if that is the intention of the Minister for Finance in introducing this supplementary Vote.
I do not intend anything so radical as that.
Is there any objection taken to the motion for leave to introduce this supplementary estimate?
Does that mean discussion?
No; it means leave to introduce the estimate. The discussion will arise on the estimate afterwards. Is there agreement to take the motion for leave to introduce this supplementary estimate now?
Agreed.