It is proposed to take business in the following order as set out in the Order Paper: Nos. 1, 3, 5, 9—and, with 9, 6 and 7 shall be put for decision—8 and 4. It is proposed that the House will sit to-day until midnight. If that arrangement is considered satisfactory, I suggest that the Taoiseach might be called upon to conclude his Estimate at 9 o'clock and that the questions on 9, 6 and 7 be put at 11.30, which would, I think, just leave time before midnight to dispose of No. 4.
Order of Business.
Would that imply that the Taoiseach's speech would be for two and a half hours?
It is my mistake. I should have said 11 o'clock. The suggestion is that the Taoiseach be called upon to conclude his estimates at 11 p.m. and that these questions would be put at 11.30 p.m., which would leave time for the balance of business before midnight.
What if we should finish earlier?
If we should finish earlier, no arrangement is necessary.
To avoid any possible misunderstanding or difficulty in regard to the procedure to be adopted in relation to the two motions on the subject of the admission of Six-County M.P.s to the Dáil or the Seanad, it is the intention that these motions should be proposed during the course of the Taoiseach's Estimate and will I be given an opportunity of replying to any points at the end, before the Taoiseach replies?
The motion will be proposed at the end of the debate.
And put without debate. The practice is to discuss them conjointly with the Estimate and then to have them formally moved and voted on without debate at the end.
I desire, if possible, five minutes at the end of the debate to reply to the points. I do not desire to make a second speech but merely about five minutes to clear up any points that may be made in the course of the debate.
I do not think there has been a precedent for that. It would, I think, be open to the Chair, as we are discussing the Estimate in Committee, to give the Deputy an opportunity of speaking a second time before the conclusion of the debate.
If there is agreement, Deputy MacBride may have, say, five minutes.
We will be in Committee on Finance and there should be no difficulty about it.
Just before the end.
Before the Taoiseach concludes.