Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Sep 1944

Vol. 94 No. 12

Sittings of Dáil—Motion.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (Mr. Kissane)

I move:—

That notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Standing Orders, and until further resolved, the following provisions shall apply in respect of sittings of the Dáil on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:—

(a) the Dáil shall meet at 3 p.m. and shall adjourn not later than 9.30 p.m.;

(b) the interruption of business provided for in sub-section (2) of Standing Order 20, shall take place at 9 p.m.;

(c) Private Deputies' Business shall be taken at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the provisions of Standing Order 80 shall otherwise apply; and

(d) where a time is otherwise specified by a Standing Order for any particular purpose, such time shall be adjusted by reference to the above provisions of this Resolution.

General Mulcahy

When I read in the motion that Private Deputies' business is to be taken at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, I take it that that means that it will be taken at 7.30 on Wednesdays and at 12 noon on Fridays.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is proposed that the House sit from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Mr. Corish

Has that been agreed to or is this question merely being submitted to the House now?

An Ceann Comhairle

The report is being submitted from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Mr. Corish

Many Deputies would like to get away on Fridays. The arrangement which operated last week in connection with Private Deputies' time was very convenient and helped the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

An Ceann Comhairle

The same arrangement will obtain to-day.

Mr. Corish

I protest against sitting from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. I think that we ought to revert to the old arrangement.

An Tánaiste

Were not the representatives of your Party at the meeting of the Committee?

Mr. Corish

I do not know.

Mr. Kissane

They were.

Mr. Corish

Did they agree?

Mr. Kissane

Yes.

Mr. O'Donnell

Would it not be better to have the trains run on Fridays?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Committee on Procedure and Privileges cannot do that.

Mr. Donnellan

I understand that it may not be necessary to meet on many Fridays.

Mr. Kissane

It may not.

Mr. Donnellan

Perhaps it will be necessary to meet only this week.

Mr. Corish

If this arrangement is to be allowed to go through now, shall we have the same arrangement for Private Members' time this week as we had last week?

Mr. Kissane

There is nothing to prevent that.

Mr. Corish

Could you not let the old arrangement stand for this week?

An Tánaiste

This whole business is a matter for the House.

Mr. Corish

If we agree to this motion, could you not arrange to have Private Members' time taken as last week?

An Tánaiste

Whatever suits the House will suit us. If the 6 to 7 o'clock arrangement is more convenient for the House than the arrangement proposed in the motion, it will suit us.

Mr. Corish

Last week's arrangement was very satisfactory.

General Mulcahy

Let us continue it for this week.

An Tánaiste

I take it that it is agreed also that we sit on Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

General Mulcahy

We agree to that for this week.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Committee on Procedure and Privileges recommended that those be the hours for this session.

Mr. Donnellan

No.

Mr. Lemass

It is, of course, subject to review.

Mr. Kissane

When this arrangement was agreed to by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the members did not intend that the House sit four days a week. They included the fourth day lest it should be necessary, owing to pressure of business at any time, to have an additional day. That is why Tuesday is mentioned in the motion.

Mr. Corish

If it is necessary to sit on Friday, then this arrangement will prevail?

General Mulcahy

No. I understand that the normal course would be to sit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuesday was included in the motion last it should be necessary for the House to sit on Tuesday.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is so. It was thought necessary that the House should sit on Tuesday of this week owing to pressure of business.

General Mulcahy

The contemplated arrangement was to sit on Friday from 3 o'clock until 9 o'clock, as nobody sees any hope at the moment of trains running on Fridays.

Mr. Corish

You will have the interruption from 6 to 7 o'clock this week. Is that agreed?

Mr. O'Donnell

What have we agreed to?

An Ceann Comhairle

The House will sit, normally, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It is sitting to-day owing to pressure of business. On Friday it will sit from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.

Mr. Corish

Is it proposed to sit four days this week?

Mr. Kissane

If necessary.

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Committee Stage of the Transport Bill were completed, it would presumably not sit on Friday.

Mr. O'Donnell

I take it that in weeks on which we would meet only two days, we would meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That would enable us to get our trains on Thursday.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is correct.

Mr. Corish

Is it only for this week that public business is to be interrupted from 6 o'clock to 7 o'clock?

An Ceann Comhairle

That is a matter which can be arranged at any time. If we adopt this recommendation, it will not prevent Private Deputies business being taken from 6 o'clock to 7 o'clock on any occasion on which such an arrangement suits the House.

Mr. Corish

The hours can be varied?

An Ceann Comhairle

Yes.

Motion agreed to.