It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 6,1,7 and in 7 Votes Nos. 57 and 58, No. 2. If not already reached it is proposed to interrupt business at 6.30 p.m. to take No.2. Consideration of public business will not be interrupted for the purpose of taking Private Deputies' Business.
Order of Business.
In connection with Question No. 15 on to-day's Order Paper, since the Taoiseach is now in the House might I, with the permission of the Chair, ask him to make a statement about the purchase of suitcases for Mrs. O'Kelly and Mrs. Aiken? I think the Head of the Government should make a statement.
This is entirely irregular and no notice of it was given.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy will resume his seat.
But surely the Chair must agree——
The Chair agrees only with order in the House.
Surely the Chair will agree that the President's wife should buy her own suitcase and that the same applies to the wife of the Minister for External Affairs. These suitcases should not be charged to the taxpayers of this country. I think it is the worst type of meanness that a man with £52,000 a year could not buy his own suitcases.
Since the Deputy persists he must leave the House.
I shall leave the House, Sir, without being asked, but I think this is a shocking thing, and I object to the Irish taxpayers being bled for suitcases for Mrs. Aiken and Mrs. O'Kelly.
Deputy O.J. Flanagan withdrew from the House.
Will Tuesday and Wednesday be the sitting days of next week?
Tuesday and Wednesday.