It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5, Private Deputies business to be taken to-day if and when business, as ordered, is completed.
Order of Business.
Is the House meeting to-morrow.
It is not proposed to sit to-morrow.
Yesterday, I directed the attention of the Tánaiste to the large amount of business standing on the Order Paper in the names of Private Deputies. There are motions on the Order Paper which, if discussed, would take at least a full three weeks of Parliamentary time. In view of the fact that we are approaching the financial period and that this is a time when country Deputies can be expected to give attention to public business, will the Tánaiste say why we are not sitting to-morrow? There are no trains to the country to-morrow.
If there is a strong feeling that the House should meet to-morrow, I would be glad if the Deputy and the Whips of the different Parties would raise the matter with the Parliamentary Secretary before to-day's business is finished when we can arrange it.
In fact this matter of the amount of business standing on the Order Paper in the names of private members has already been represented to the Government.
As far as I know, there was no suggestion that the House should meet to-morrow.
There was, very definitely.
Deputy Mulcahy is quite correct. Deputies cannot get home to-morrow, and it is only right that the business should be got on with while Deputies are here. We cannot get home to-morrow.
I desire to suggest that the House should sit to-morrow from 3 o'clock until 9 o'clock. I would also like to ask An Tánaiste whether it is proposed that the House should sit next week.
It is proposed to sit next week.
I suggest that we could deal with some of those motions next week, because if we pass the present period they are going to be left lying on the Order Paper, and in that way will, perhaps, prevent the taking of other motions in the names of Private Deputies dealing with current topics.
I will ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consult with the other Parties before we come to a decision. I will let the Deputy know what the decision is before the House adjourns.