I move:—
That Standing Order 30 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended by the deletion therefrom of the words "but no question shall be handed in on" and the substitution therefor of the words "not reckoning".
The Standing Orders provide that Deputies must give at least three days' notice of a Parliamentary Question. In regard to certain types of questions handed in over the week-end, experience has shown that the notice is inadequate to enable Departments to collect from out-lying branches detailed information required by the Minister for his reply. For example, to a question handed in at or before 4 p.m. on a Friday the Deputy is entitled to an answer on the following Tuesday. Saturday and Sunday intervene and Saturday is a short day. Consequently the time is too short to enable Departments to prepare the data. This motion proposes to amend the relevant Standing Order by deleting certain words and substituting others. The effect would be to disregard Saturday as one of the three days of notice required. If the motion is accepted, it will mean that questions for answer on Tuesday must be handed into the Dáil office not later than 4 p.m. on Thursday. The present position regarding questions for Wednesdays and Thursdays will not be affected.
