Business will be taken as on the Order Paper, Nos. 1 to 9 inclusive, No. 3 to be taken in its appropriate place; public business to be interrupted at 9 o'clock to take Private Deputies' business. Item No. 9 (Supplementary Estimates) to be taken at 6 o'clock; business interfered with to be resumed at 7 o'clock.
Order of Business.
I should like to ask the Tanaiste if he considers it desirable to continue the debate on the motion standing in the names of members of this Party in connection with the economic circumstances of the country and other controversial matters during the negotiations which are at present proceeding between our Government and the Government of Great Britain? So far as we are concerned, we should prefer to postpone the discussion of highly controversial matters of that kind until these negotiations shall have been brought to what, we hope, will be a successful conclusion. We should be glad to waive the traditional claim of the Opposition—I do not purport to speak for the Labour Party or for members of the Independent Benches; I have no authority to speak for them —to Private Deputies' time until these other matters shall have been disposed of.
We should have no objection to the continuance of the discussion on economic matters. We do not think that any discussion that might take place would be likely to put any difficulties in the way of those who are negotiating. If there is any feeling on the part of Opposition Deputies or Deputies in any other part of the House that—to quote a phrase which Deputy Dillon has sometimes used—their style would be cramped by reason of the negotiations, we should have no objection to falling in with their views.
Our solicitude is that what we might feel it our duty to say in connection with these matters might, if said at the present time, possibly embarrass the Government in their negotiations. In the light of that, we are prepared to waive our traditional right to Private Deputies' time.
I understand. Is there any objection on the part of other Deputies to postponing the discussion?
There is no objection on this side.
Then we shall not have Private Members' time.
I take it that Government business will, in these circumstances, be continued until 10.30 p.m.?
Agreed.