The next item on the Order Paper is No. 2—a motion in the names of Deputies Norton and Davin.
Committee on Finance. - Business of Dáil.
Before we enter on a discussion of this motion, Sir, I should like to call the attention of the Taoiseach to the fact that it was originally intended that Thursday of this week would be devoted to a discussion of this motion, but we facilitated the Government by allowing them to take certain Estimates to-day. The effect of our accommodation to the Government has been that there is now really less than the normal Private Members' time to devote to this matter, which the Government agreed would necessarily take a day for adequate discussion. Will the Taoiseach now agree that the House should sit to-morrow in order to dispose of the motion? I think we shall be able to dispose of it by 2 o'clock, or possibly, even earlier, if we sit to-morrow.
The Deputy mentioned that to me, and I asked the Ministers concerned whether or not they would be free to-morrow. I understand that it will be very inconvenient for them to be here to-morrow on account of other appointments. If the Deputy thinks that a whole day should be devoted to this motion, I suggest that the House should come back on Tuesday, if the Deputy and the House would be prepared to agree to that.
Yes. If the Taoiseach suggests that, and if the House is agreeable, we should be quite prepared to come here on Tuesday.
Does that mean that the House will adjourn now?
Yes, I presume that is so.
Well, from my own point of view, there are two things involved here. There is the question of Parliament and of the Executive Council, and there is also the whole question of unemployment. I think that these two questions are so big and so important that I would ask the House to reassemble on Tuesday.
Is it proposed, then, that the House will not proceed with this debate to-night, but will take it up on Tuesday next?
Yes, and give the whole of Tuesday to it.
And the Minister for Industry and Commerce will talk on it?
Yes.
Are we to understand that we sit on four days next week?
It is usual to sit on three days, but, if it is necessary to sit on the four days, yes.
The Dáil adjourned at 7.45 p.m. until Tuesday, 11th March, at 3 p.m.