It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 5, 6, 7 to 13, in the order in which they appear on the Order Paper, Money Resolution, No. 2, being taken prior to No. 7. It is proposed to take Private Deputies' Business at 9 o'clock when the business of the House will be concerned with motion No. 1.
Order of Business.
In regard to the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper with reference to the incarceration of Monsignor Stepinac, Archbishop of Zagreb and Primate of Yugo-Slavia, I should be glad to know if the Government will provide time in which that matter may be discussed. Deputy Anthony will second the motion to allow it to be discussed in the House.
We have had no notice of that question. I will consider it. If the Deputy repeats his question to-morrow, he will get an answer.
Is the House sitting to-morrow?
I think so.
And the Minister will give me an answer to-morrow?
Perhaps.
You said you would.
I think notice should be given of this question.
You said that if the Deputy puts his question to-morrow he will get an answer. Are you going back on that? Will you give an answer?
I am not undertaking to give an answer. If the Deputy puts his question, he may get an answer.
Then I will turn to the Chair and ask if there is any means within the Standing Orders of securing that an answer to a civil question will be vouchsafed by the Tánaiste. I want to know will the Government, after considering the matter until to-morrow, intimate whether they intend to give time or not, so that I may avail of my rights under the Standing Orders in the event of the Government seeking to deprive me of an opportunity of debating the motion. Is there any means by which I can get an answer?
The usual procedure by which a Deputy arranges to get Government time is to consult the Government Whips.
Are we in a Catholic country?
If we are in a Catholic country, there are just as many Catholics on the far side of the House as on this. Am I to understand that the correct procedure under the Standing Orders of the House is that contact should be made now with the chief Government Whip?
I did not say the Standing Orders. I say that the established procedure is that you consult the Government Whips. It was done quite recently and Government time was given. The Deputy is entitled to debate the matter in the House.
If I adopt your suggestion, I trust the Government will react in the same spirit.
The Tánaiste rather suggests that we may not meet to-morrow.
I think it is very likely that we will.
The inference I got from the Tánaiste's remarks was that if the business he has mentioned is concluded to-night the Dáil will not sit to-morrow. I oppose very definitely any suggestion to adjourn until next week. There are 18 Private Deputies' motions on the Order Paper. I would press on the Government that, although the Government may have no business to be considered at this particular time of the year, there are 18 Private Deputies' motions that require urgent discussion. I press that the Dáil will sit for the ordinary days each week, namely, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, until these motions are cleared off the Order Paper, whether the Government has business to go on with or not.
I think the Deputy may be assured that at some time during the session arrangements will be made to ensure that there will be available for discussion of Private Deputies' motions at least the same amount of time as would have been available if the Dáil met on three days each week.
I definitely resist the shutting down of Parliament at this particular time of the year. There are urgent matters to be discussed on behalf of the people by the Opposition Parties, if the Government are behind with their work. So far as I can see, it looks as if no work will be done by the Government before Christmas and that we will have all the Government work piled on us during the time when financial business has to be considered next year. There are 18 Private Deputies' motions dealing with matters of public importance on the Order Paper and, so far as we can, we intend to see that Parliament sits on the ordinary days every week from this until Christmas, if necessary, to dispose of the business. There is also this to be considered, that there will be other urgent matters arising—a number of them are already appearing on the horizon—and they will require discussion between this and Christmas. I ask the Government to appreciate what the general position is and to decide to sit three days every week, as I have suggested, so as to give private members an opportunity of discussing matters that they consider of public importance. I suggest that can be done if the Government have no business to offer to the House. If it is proposed to adjourn the House to-day until some time next week, when can that particular matter be discussed?
Before the adjournment to-night.
I assume, unless there is a definite motion to the contrary, that the House will sit to-morrow.
A motion to adjourn until next week could be opposed. Anyway, it is most unlikely that the Dáil will finish the business to-day.
I do not want any motion of that kind to be put before us at 10.25 p.m. and carried by the majority vote of the Government Party.
This is a democracy, and surely the majority has rights.
The majority Party never had a right given to them under the Constitution to choke down the voices of the representatives of the people.
There is nobody choking down the Deputy's voice—that is a certainty.
Then it is not for the want of trying.
Private Deputies are entitled to three hours for each motion, and they will get it.
The Parliamentary time of three days a week to which Deputies are entitled will definitely be used in the interest of carrying on public business.