It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Items Nos. 1 and 2 (Votes 45 to 51). It is further proposed that Government Business be not interrupted to-day at the time usually fixed for Private Deputies' Business.
Business of the Dáil.
Seeing that there are 100 questions remaining unanswered, I think it would not be unreasonable to ask the Government to provide a reasonable amount of extra time to enable these questions to be answered, as the House has not been in session for some weeks back.
Of course, Deputies can get written answers if they so desire.
May I suggest that questions which are not answered on the particular day on which they appear on the Order Paper and which are held over till the following day, should have priority to questions handed in subsequently?
Mr. Boland
I should like to suggest that, in view of the number of questions which appear on the Order Paper, and in view of the practice which has grown up amongst members of the Government Party of putting down questions, we shall have to consider the advisability of extending Question Time. It was the practice in our time for the Opposition only to put down questions. That practice does not obtain now and I think we shall have to consider extending the time allowed for questions.
It is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Mr. Boland
Something like that should be done. Question Time is a very important time, for the Opposition anyway.
There are many questions that could be put down for written answer that are put down for oral answer.
Mr. Boland
That is a privilege that the Opposition always insisted on, and rightly so, and we are not going to change the practice now.
I am not distinguishing as between the rights of members of any Party to put down questions. I understand that any member of the House has a right to put down a Parliamentary question.
Mr. Boland
The practice was always the reverse during our period of office and the time arranged for questions was fixed having regard to the fact that it was generally Opposition members only who put down these questions. The Opposition has been crowded out in this matter recently.
Is the Deputy afraid of the searchlight?
Mr. Boland
We are afraid of nothing and we shall let some of the young people over there see that before long.
I should like to assert on behalf of members of the Fine Gael Party that the members of the Party never relinquished their right to put down Parliamentary questions and it was never suggested that their exercise of that right was unfair.
Mr. Boland
I was referring to what was done when the Cumann na nGaedheal Party were here, before they changed their name. It was the practice here then for members of the Opposition to put down questions and I am suggesting that the practice is being departed from. At least, we must get time to put such questions as we desire.
I submit that this is a matter for decision by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. We are not obstructing anybody in their right to put down questions, but I suggest that it is wasting the time of the House to discuss this matter here.
I have put forward a suggestion that time should be allowed to-day to enable the remaining questions on the Order Paper to be answered pending an examination of the whole matter by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
It is against Standing Orders, but the House may suspend Standing Orders.
I submit that there is some very important business to be taken now on the General Resolution.
These questions are of great importance to the Irish people.
It is a pity you did not give us some notice of your intentions in the matter.