It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper, Motion No. 1. When the business as ordered is completed Motion No. 7 will then be taken. If the motion is not concluded by 10.30 p.m. the Dáil will adjourn until to-morrow, the 17th instant, at 10.30 a.m., when the business will be resumed.
Order of Business.
Until what date is it intended to adjourn the Dáil?
Until the 12th February.
In the present juncture, in view of the disturbed conditions through which the country is passing, I consider that long intervals between meetings of the Dáil are not good for the country. The country feels and expects that the Dáil should meet more frequently. There is sufficient work to justify meetings of the Dáil. The number of motions on the Order Paper would indicate that there is justification for weekly meetings of the Dáil.
Can the Minister say what is his intention in regard to No. 8? Is it intended to take that?
No; it is not intended to take it.
Why?
It is undoubtedly true that there is a feeling in the country that there should be more frequent meetings of the Dáil at this time. I suggest that Deputy Keyes' proposal might be favourably considered between this and whatever hour the adjournment is taken on this occasion with a view to determining whether the Dáil would not be reconvened before the 12th February if it is the general feeling of the House that that is desirable.
If I might intervene, the position has been that we have indicated that if there was any demand from any substantial part of the House for a meeting the meeting would be called. For instance, there was no hesitation whatever when the Leader of the Opposition wished to have a meeting to-day. The meeting was called. In the same way, if there is any substantial body of opinion in the House that requires the Dáil to meet it will be done. On the other hand, members of the Dáil will realise that there is a great deal of executive work falling to be done at the present time and if the Ministers are engaged here in the House they will not be able to do the executive part of their work.
I should fancy, even making allowance for the stress of work upon the Executive Council, there ought to be some consideration for the people of the country. Even if there was not justification for weekly meetings of one day, at least a two-day sitting every fortnight ought to be made a rule or practice in the present period through which the people are passing.
I should say the Government is in the hands of the House in that matter. We are trying to order business so as to have the work done most effectively, but we are not aware that there is any such feeling in the country. There is no doubt that if the Ministers are here attending to the work of the Dáil they will not be able to give the attention to their departments that I think the present time requires. That is the only matter to be borne in mind as far as we are concerned. We are depending upon the Opposition Parties to indicate if they feel that there is need for any special reason that the Dáil should meet.