Why are we reporting progress now?
Report of Tribunal.
I understand, first, that the Taoiseach has a statement to make, and, if that were not the case, there is a question on the adjournment.
I do not know whether the Taoiseach wants to tell the House that he has a statement to make, but, if he has, then I protest that the House is not being properly treated in the matter. Is it a fact that the Taoiseach wishes to make a statement, and, if so, on what does he wish to make the statement?
I wish to make a statement on the fact that we have received the report of the tribunal——
I object to that. We have no formal information of any kind about it. I have been trying since yesterday to get some kind of information for the House as to whether the report of the tribunal had been delivered to the Government and when the Government would have any statement to make to the House about it, and I therefore suggest that, in fairness to the House, the Taoiseach should make his statement after Question Time to-morrow, when we will have an opportunity of discussing it, I expect.
I understood that at Question Time to-day—unfortunately I was unable to be present—the House was informed that it was likely I would be in a position this evening to make a statement to the House with reference to the tribunal.
I think five minutes to ten is not the appropriate time to make a statement.
At the same time, this report has been circulated for publication. It has been laid on the Table of the House and I think it right that the House should get some information on it.
I do not know of any reason why it could not have been circulated to the House much earlier to-day and why a more systematic exchange of information as to when a statement would be made on the matter could not have been arranged. I want to suggest that three minutes to ten is not the proper time for the Taoiseach to make a statement on a matter which is of very considerable public concern and upon which people other than the Taoiseach may want to say something. I wonder whether he would tell us now whether he will make his statement after Question Time to-morrow and whether we shall have an opportunity of debating the statement then.
I think I should be permitted to make this statement. I did not anticipate that there was going to be any objection to the statement I have to make, but we have made an arrangement now and it would be quite wrong to allow this to get out to the public without——
I want to say that no arrangements have been made with us. I understand that, according to the rules of the House, no statement can be made, out of order, except by the permission of the House. I think the Government are treating the House in an absurd way. They do not realise that this is a Parliament and that we are here to help them. We can only help them when we are treated as a Parliament, but, because we are prepared to help them——
The Deputy is making another speech.
——I object to an important statement being made at this hour of the night by the Taoiseach. I suggest that a more appropriate and more effective time to make this statement in present circumstances would be after Question Time to-morrow, when we can debate the statement.
On that, if a statement is made informative, to the House of the facts of the findings of a certain tribunal, which, I understand, is the matter, there will be no motion before the House for discussion and such statements are not discussed. If any aspect of such a statement would demand discussion, in the opinion of the House or any Parties thereof, they could table a motion to that effect.
If the Taoiseach is not prepared to move the adjournment of the House to-morrow for the purpose of making his statement and having it discussed, I will ask you, Sir, for permission under Standing Order 95, to move the adjournment of the House in order to raise a matter of urgent public importance, that is, a discussion of the Taoiseach's statement and the report of the tribunal. I suggets to the Taoiseach, however, that it would be more satisfactory from everybody's point of view if the adjournment were moved by him after Question Time to-morrow, and if he made his statement, and if such discussion as the House thought advisable were allowed to take place.
I find it very difficult to understand the attitude of the Leader of the Opposition. If there is to be a discussion, time can be given for a discussion, but I want to complete the work which was begun when motions were brought before the House by telling the House the position with regard to the tribunal and so on.
Is that the reason you chose a quarter to ten?
The Taoiseach should have treated the House in a different way from the way it is being treated in this matter.
The Leaders of the Parties were given a copy of the report.
There is such a person in this House as the Leader of the Opposition.
I said the Leaders of Parties.
I am talking about the Leader of the Opposition.
The Leaders of Parties—there is more than one Party here.
There is one Opposition.
There is not one Opposition. There are several groups forming the Opposition.
My copy of the report was delivered to me at eight minutes past nine. It was in the hands of the Government on Saturday.
Is there not a question on the Adjournment at 10 o'clock?
On a point of order, Sir, I gave notice that I would raise on the Adjournment——
Is it not obvious that there is an attempt being made to prevent me making a statement?
It is obvious that the Taoiseach intended that nobody but he would be allowed to speak when he chose a quarter to ten. Why did the Taoiseach not fix 7 o'clock?
It is quite obvious that this attempt is being made. No objection was raised, I understand, at Question Time this afternoon when it was indicated to the House that I would have a statement to make.
The Minister said he was not able to indicate when it would be made.
It is now three minutes after the time for adjournment.
Deputies are determined that they do not want to hear this statement. I simply say that if they are determined not to listen——
We will listen to-morrow.
If they are determined that they will not listen to my statement——
To-morrow.
When the majority of the House——
Shut up, you.
On a point of order, I gave notice that I would raise a matter on the adjournment.
The Taoiseach might be heard for a minute.
What is the time? Ten o'clock is gone.
What about the Standing Orders? It was intended that nobody but the Taoiseach would be heard to-night.
Nobody else was entitled to be heard to-night on a statement of this kind.
Exactly.
The cat is out of the bag now.
According to the rules of order, if anybody wants to be heard on the report they can be heard by putting down a motion.
I will present you, Sir, with notice in the morning under Standing Order No. 95 that I want to move the adjournment.
Standing Order 29 is the one.
It would be more satisfactory if the Government would do it of their own volition.
I am always ready to listen to a reasonable demand from the Opposition. I think their attitude in the present matter is quite unreasonable. I have a simple statement to make concerning the work begun here, when a resolution was passed authorising me to set up the tribunal.
You have a hope.
I want to report to the House——
On a point of order, this House automatically adjourns at 10 o'clock. I want to put this to the Ceann Comhairle: Are we in order?
The House automatically adjourns at 10.30 p.m.
There is a motion on the adjournment.
Quite; but 10.30 is the hour for the adjournment.
Is the Taoiseach in order in discussing anything other than the matter to be raised on the adjournment, or is there to be, as usual, one rule for the Taoiseach and a different rule for everybody else?
The Deputy should not make such a reflection on the Chair.
Mr. Boland
That is a reflection on the Chair.
It is four minutes past ten now.
The Deputy should not make such a reflection on the Chair. The Minister was not allowed to make his statement.
Then he is not going to make it.
If the Taoiseach had chosen to speak earlier in the night he would be given full liberty.
Mr. Boland
Deputy Morrissey should withdraw that reflection on the Chair.
The reflection on the Chair is marked by the clock.
On a point of order, I claim the right to raise a question on the Adjournment at 10 o'clock. It is now five minutes past ten.
Six minutes of the time is gone now.
I wish to inform the House——
Are we going to listen?
The Deputy is not in the Chair.
I am asking the Ceann Comhairle this question: Is he going to allow the Taoiseach in flagrant——
May I ask is anybody entitled to intervene here to make a statement without the permission of the House?
No. There should be permission of the House. It is the first occasion on which I have seen the Taoiseach or the President refused the permission of the House.
Then it has been refused.
I have intimated that I decline to give permission for the reasons given.
That settles it.