It is proposed to take business in the following order: Items Nos. 2, 5, 8, 13, 14, 10, 9. Private Deputies' Business will be taken at 12 noon.
Order of Business.
Would the Tánaiste say whether the Government would consider giving Government time to consider Item No. 33, a private Deputy's motion standing in my name and the names of the members of the Clann na Talmhan Party?
I do not think there is much likelihood of that during this session.
I put it to the Tánaiste that this is the most important motion on the Order Paper and I do not see why the Government should be shy of facing up to it.
The Government does not control the Order Paper in regard to Private Members' time. Having regard to the programme of public business the likelihood of Government time being made available is remote.
Perhaps the Tánaiste might agree that the Government would give time for the discussion of the motion by putting the matter before the House and if the House consented to do so to go ahead. I think the motion is such that we should get Government time to discuss it. I had intended to ask for the usual three hours but even the three hours would not delay Government business.
In this session we can give the Deputy almost anything but time.
Could the Tánaiste give some indication, not now, but next week of what is going to be the Government's attitude regarding the Intestates' Estates Bill, 1951?
I will try to do so.
Could we know when the Minister for Defence will be able to introduce the Bill we are told is coming in this session?
If the Pensions Bill is not available next week I hope it will be available the week after.
I understand that it is wanted before Christmas.
There are two or three Bills one of which I should like to have passed this session. It would be non-contentious. It is possible that many of the other Bills may be in that category also, but if there was any likelihood of there being a discussion on the Bills I do not think we could afford the time.
Let us see that Bill as quickly as possible. Is it proposed to take the Courts of Justice Bill at an early date?
We will try to put it on the Order Paper.