I wish to raise a point affecting the rights of Private Deputies. A number of questions were submitted—as is their right—by Deputies for appearance on the Order Paper about a fortnight ago, at least. Some of them might have been submitted a little earlier. Many questions which appear on the Order Paper were sent in more than a fortnight previously, and in ordinary circumstances ought to have appeared in time for the last sitting of the Dáil. For some reason these questions did not appear on the Order Paper on that day. Some appear to-day, but other questions have not yet appeared and, if the House is not going to sit to-morrow, these questions will not be asked until next week. I think that arrangement is a most unsatisfactory one for Private Deputies, and that something might be done whereby a longer time would be allowed for the answering of questions submitted by Private Deputies. The position is particularly unsatisfactory when the Dáil is asked to meet one day in the week, and then adjourn, notwithstanding the fact that there are a number of questions awaiting answers, and that there are a large number of motions by Private Deputies on the Order Paper. I think this is a matter in which the President of the Executive Council would be interested. If the Dáil will only meet one day to deal with Government business, a second day, or, if necessary, a third day should be given to the consideration of Private Deputies' motions, and the time for answering questions should be substantially extended so as to prevent the accumulation of questions and motions, because the Dáil only sits one day in the week.
Rights of Private Deputies.
The Deputy will have observed that to-day, and at the last sitting of the Dáil, questions continued up to 3.45 p.m., a quarter of an hour over the usual time. If the pressure of business is not great extra time might be given to questions and a further number allowed on the Order Paper. I might suggest, without making any invidious selection, that at least a dozen of the questions on to-day's Order Paper might have been "starred" in order to save time. On the other matters it is not for me to pronounce.
No "starring" of questions is likely to get over the difficulty that has arisen. When Deputies ask questions they often find it necessary to ask supplementaries, which is not possible where they are "starred." I should like to know if it is intended that the Dáil shall sit to-morrow or Friday or, if it is proposed to adjourn if this day's business is disposed of.
I should like to be clear about this. There is no suggestion, implied or otherwise, that any restriction will be placed on the right of a Private Deputy to put down a question in his own absolute discretion provided it is within the rules of order. I consider that to be one of the most valuable constitutional safeguards that citizens and Deputies have.
The Chair has never brought pressure to bear on Deputies in that matter.
As to the question whether the Dáil will sit for the remainder of the week, that depends exactly on how we get on with the business. There are Government Bills to be dealt with, and afterwards, if there is any desire on the part of Deputies to get on with Private Deputies' Business, I am sure they can do so.
The arrangement that has been operative for the past four or five weeks has been that we met only for one day, and the expense of bringing. Deputies up for one day's sitting will be obvious to the President. When Deputies arrive in Dublin to transact Dáil Business on Wednesday, if it is not possible to provide Government measures for consideration on Thursday, I suggest that Private Deputies' motions should be dealt with. These are Parliamentary matters and should get attention. When Deputies are brought to town they might as well be asked to deal with these motions instead of being allowed to return home after having spent only one day here. Can the President say if it is likely that the Government will dispose of the Government measures to-day and, if so, is it likely the House will be sitting to-morrow? Can the President arrange if no business is available to provide time for the other motions?
I cannot say what time will be taken by the House on the business before it to-day. We will not know how long it will take to finish the measures before the House. The Rules of Order provide that at certain time Private Deputies' Business will be taken. That was arranged to enable the Executive work to be continued at the same time. If there is a reason for altering the rules I think we would have to consider it very carefully. I could not give an offhand reply.
What situation is likely to confront us to-night? If the Dáil deals with the items up to No. 23 then we reach 9 o'clock. Is it likely that by 10.30 p.m. Private Deputies' Business will be concluded, or will it be decided that the House will not sit until Wednesday of next week? In the meantime will some effort be made to meet Private Deputies to-morrow?
If there is no Government work ready to occupy the Dáil during the period provided in the Standing Orders, the usual rule is to adjourn the Dáil until business is available. If there is any suggestion or desire on the part of Deputies to alter that, it would have to be very carefully considered before we could agree to it, because the Standing Orders have been arranged to make it possible for Executive work to continue while the Dáil is sitting. We have to make sure that that is possible.
My suggestion does not interfere with Government Business. The Dáil met last Wednesday and Deputies were brought to Dublin for one day's sitting. If there is no Government Business on Thursday to justify a sitting I suggest that there should be no difficulty whatever in allowing the Dáil to devote time on Thursday for the consideration of Private Deputies' Business.
This is the first time it was brought to my notice.
May I put this point to the President, that by deciding on Wednesday not to sit on Thursday or Friday the President and the Executive Council are withdrawing from Private Deputies two hours which would be available to them on Friday during Private Members' time, leaving less than half the normal time for that business.
This is the first time that it was brought to my attention and obviously it would seem to be a matter for discussion by the Committee of Procedure and Privileges, after which it would be a matter as to what the Government could do about it. I will have the matter examined to see what can be done. This is the first time as far as I know that it was raised.