Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 1929

Vol. 32 No. 13

Business of the Dáil.

The Vice-President (Mr. Blythe)

It is proposed to take items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. I beg to suggest to the House that as there will not be time to take the Supplementary Estimates before the Dáil adjourns, No. 55 (Land Commission) could be taken to-morrow with very little discussion. The Government would be prepared immediately on the resumption to introduce a token Estimate for the Land Commission in order to enable a discussion, which would ordinarily take place on the Supplementary Estimate, to be carried on. The other Supplementary Estimates will be allowed to stand over until the resumption.

Last week Deputy Lemass asked if time could be given for a discussion on the report of the Tariff Commission with reference to an application for a tariff on fish barrels. If it is found possible to-day and to-morrow to finish items 9 to 13 it is proposed to give the whole of Friday for Private Business, and that will allow the matter to be discussed. If there was a little time to-morrow night, that matter might also be taken up. It will all, of course, depend upon the progress made with the business I have referred to.

Mr. O'Kelly

We are quite satisfied with the suggestion of the Vice-President in regard to the Land Commission Estimate on the understanding that time will be allowed for discussion when we resume early in the New Year.

Mr. Flinn

Will the Vice-President indicate what is the nature of No. 70 (Grant to Royal Irish Automobile Club)?

Mr. Blythe

That Estimate has been circulated.

Mr. Flinn

It has not come to me, curiously enough.

Mr. Blythe

It is not proposed to take that until we resume after the Christmas Recess.

Mr. Davin

Is the Vice-President in a position to say whether the usual facilities will be given on Friday for a discussion on any matter of urgent public importance that may be raised?

Mr. Blythe

We will try to meet the Deputy by moving the adjournment perhaps a little earlier on Friday. Possibly we could arrange to sit a little later if it would be convenient to Deputies. I presume the Deputy would want an hour instead of the customary half-hour.

Mr. Davin

It is not a case of the Deputy personally; there are others who desire to speak on a particular subject. On a previous occasion the President allowed two hours. It is, of course, a matter for arrangement. Can the Vice-President give us an assurance that reasonable time will be provided as on a previous occasion?

Mr. Blythe

We will make every effort to meet the Deputy. We are anxious to have the ordinary business of the Dáil finished by Thursday, so as to allow Deputy Lemass time for the discussion on the application for a tariff on fish barrels. It will be a matter of arranging how best the time on Friday can be devoted to the various matters requiring discussion.

Mr. Cassidy

Is the Vice-President prepared to allocate a certain time to a discussion on the unemployment problem? We will be adjourning for two and a half months and I think the House should be allowed an opportunity for discussing this matter. It is not fair to adjourn without endeavouring in some way to relieve existing unemployment and distress.

Mr. Blythe

I understood that was the matter to which Deputy Davin was referring. It is therefore a question of arranging the time on Friday so that the matters requiring discussion can be sufficiently discussed.

Mr. Flinn

Could the Minister indicate the duration of the adjournment?

Mr. Blythe

It is proposed to adjourn until the 12th February, 1930.

Mr. Little

Will Private Members' time on Friday be interfered with?

Mr. Blythe

No. If we are able to finish items 9 to 13 by to-morrow night we will give all Friday for Private Members' Business. If we cannot finish the ordinary business, then Private Members' Business will begin in the ordinary way at 12 o'clock. It will then be a matter of deciding what time the adjournment will be taken so as to allow reasonable time for discussion on the matters to which Deputy Davin, Deputy Cassidy and Deputy Lemass have referred.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the Minister including the Housing (Gaeltacht) Bill, 1929, in the number of Bills he hopes to conclude?

Mr. Blythe

Yes. We hope to conclude it if at all possible.