It is proposed to take the business as set out on the Order Paper, in the following order: Items 8 and 9— Votes 29, 30 and 31—and then Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Order of Business.
What business will be taken to-morrow, or will the House sit to-morrow?
That will depend on the progress made with the business ordered for to-day. I believe we shall have to sit to-morrow. We have a very big programme and it is hoped to conclude before the end of July.
What business will be taken to-morrow?
If we meet to-morrow, Vote 65—External Affairs.
Only?
Yes, the Estimate for External Affairs. It will scarcely be concluded to-morrow.
May we take it that no other business will be taken to-morrow after Vote 65, if that Vote concludes before the usual time for rising?
We will order Vote 65 and then we will order any other business that can be taken should Vote 65 be finished.
We assembled this week on the understanding that Items 11, 12, 13 and 14 would be taken on Wednesday. If Deputies are asked to stay over to-morrow to do business, they ought to know what business is likely to be on the Order Paper. I suggest if there is no business other than Vote 65 to be put on the Order Paper for to-morrow, we ought to be told that now.
The Government have always endeavoured to facilitate the various Parties by giving all the information it can in anticipation. We have already ordered the consideration of Items 8 and 9, which included various Estimates, and then Items 10 to 14, which include Bills, the consideration of which the Leader of the principal Opposition seems to desire. If we had finished the discussion on the Agriculture Vote on Tuesday, these Bills would have been taken yesterday. If we conclude the discussion on the Agriculture Vote this. afternoon, these Bills will be taken before the House adjourns to-night.
The point is, what business will be put before the House to-morrow, if we sit to-morrow?
We will take, first of all, Vote 65—the Department of External Affairs. With it will also be taken the Supplementary Estimate. If we should order some other business in the somewhat shadowy hope that the External Affairs debate may be concluded, it will probably include the Bills to which the Deputy refers.
Why there is any question about to-morrow is that it is undesirable that the Bills covered by Items 11, 12, 13 and 14 be taken on Friday, when a large number of Deputies cannot be in the House. These are Bills that affect, to some extent, our privileges—I understand that has been accepted by the Government. The Minister now indicates that, as well as the External Affairs Vote, these Bills may be taken to-morrow.
Vote 65 will be started, anyhow.
Surely, if Deputies are to be here to-morrow we ought to know what business will be taken, apart from the External Affairs Vote?
I think it is in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House that the Dáil meets on Friday. We have been told frequently by representatives of various Parties here, and by representatives of those Parties outside, that it is the duty of Deputies to attend here. I do not see any reason why Deputies should not attend to-morrow. There are train services now to every part of the country during Fridays and Saturdays. We have a very heavy programme which we are anxious to get through, because I understand the Dáil does not want to sit in August. If the External Affairs Vote is disposed of to-morrow, we cannot forego making use of whatever time is at the disposal of the House.
Nobody is suggesting that. What will be taken after External Affairs?
Whatever is not finished to-day.
If we reach Items 11 and 12 this evening, is it proposed, if these Bills are not finished, that we should leave them unfinished and proceed to-morrow to discuss the External Affairs Vote?
We are really debating the Order of Business for to-day. It has been the custom to allow tomorrow's matters to look after themselves. It is proposed when the Dáil meets to-morrow to commence the business with a debate on the Estimate for the Department of External Affairs.
Even if we do not finish these other Bills?
Even if we do not finish the business as ordered for to-day.
If Items 11 and 12 do not finish to-night, is it not perfectly reasonable to suggest that the Taoiseach should not be held hanging about the House on the off-chance that they might finish to-morrow? On the other hand, if the Opposition accept the position that the Taoiseach should not be kept hanging about the House, is it not reasonable to suggest that, if the Taoiseach's Estimate is taken, when it is disposed of the House will adjourn and then the Taoiseach's neighbours will not be kept hanging about the House wondering if they ought to stay here to take up the business that was left outstanding the night before and then take Items 11 and 12, where we left off on Thursday night? If we want to be fair and reasonable to the Taoiseach, who is the Leader of the Minister's Party, surely to goodness the Minister should be prepared to recognise an obligation on his part to be reasonable to the Parties on this side.
I think Deputies should be reasonable and appreciate what the position of the Government is. We must get the Estimates through. I agree with Deputy Dillon that it would be quite unreasonable to have, as he said, the Taoiseach hanging about he House, because the Taoiseach has a number of other duties which he must discharge.
So have we.
But they are not public duties. Therefore, realising that we are to take to-morrow the Vote for External Affairs, the question as to whether, when that is disposed of, the sitting should continue to the normal hour of adjournment at 2 o'clock is a matter that might be taken up with the Whips later this afternoon.
It is because we cannot get that information from the Whips that we ask for information here.
He changed his mind five times this morning.
It was the Government changed their minds.