Yesterday I gave notice of my intention to raise the subject-matter of Question 23 on the Order Paper. You had received a prior notice and therefore my question was not taken. I propose, with your permission, to raise it to-night.
Emigration Figures. - Questions on the Adjournment.
The Minister for Agriculture asked me last night whether he would be free to go to a certain function to-night and I said that I thought so. Wisdom has taught me now that in any communication of a similar nature or any arrangements to be made matters will be left to Ministers and Deputies to settle between themselves. I thought that the Deputy might postpone his question. He is within his right under No. 20 of the Standing Orders to rise and give notice that he will raise on the adjournment any matter if the Chair considers such matter in order and proper to be then raised. I have, therefore, no power to prevent the Deputy raising any such matter. Deputy Smith desires to raise that matter to-night. I might say that I did not advert yesterday to the fact that the House is not sitting next week. He is within his right to raise it. I think the Minister gathered from me that he would be quite at liberty to go to that function.
May I say that on Deputy Smith's mentioning the matter at Question Time yesterday I waited on you to have your direction as to what you directed us to do? You directed that the matter would not be dealt with to-night and that you did not expect that you would allow it to be dealt with. I then renewed my assurance that I was at your disposal. This morning I confirmed an appointment which had been left open. You personally rang me up. I renewed my readiness to place myself at your disposal, and you said that in view of the fact that I had entered into an engagement you wished me, on your say-so of the night before, to keep it and you would adhere to the arrangement. I assented to that.
I was subsequently rung up by your clerk, to whom I replied that the Ceann Comhairle had spoken to me on this matter and that I did not propose to discuss it further. I was again rung up by an officer of the House, to whom I said the same thing. I think there is some error suggested that I sought to postpone this matter to attend a function. I asked you last night what your directions in the matter were. You gave them. Consequent upon your direction in the matter I entered upon an engagement. I now renew my readiness to postpone or cancel any engagement outside this House in order to meet any public duty attaching to my office which you, as Ceann Comhairle, consider it is appropriate to honour.
I have nothing to say except that I regret having given any promise or interfering between the Minister and the Deputy as to the matter to be raised on the adjournment, the Deputy having the perfect right to raise it. In future all such matters will be arranged without my interference although the interference was very well meant. The only option I have is in a case where there are two or three questions raised. I decide which of the three will be allowed on that day. No Deputy has any right to pre-empt the time of the following day.
I have no desire at all to be awkward in this matter in so far as the Minister has entered into commitments in regard to a function. However, this is a matter of vital importance and I cannot see why the Government should not be able to give half an hour or three-quarters of an hour at some period before 10.30 p.m. which would enable us to discuss it. If that is not possible I cannot see why we should not be able to meet to-morrow morning in order to discuss this question.
The Minister has stated his desire to be here at 10 o'clock and neither he nor anyone would wish to depart from the usual procedure.
The matter will be raised to-night at 10 o'clock.
That is not a very satisfactory conclusion in the matter.
One conclusion is that the Chair will not interfere with any arrangements in the future.