It is proposed to take business in the following order:— Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Private Members' Business will be taken at 9 o'clock.
National Loan, 1960. - Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, might I ask the Taoiseach whether he is prepared to consider the desirability of allowing three hours each week for Private Members' time from this until next March in view of the fact that the time usually allotted for Private Members has in the past been three hours. The Taoiseach knows there are a number of important motions on the Order Paper which cannot be reached unless sufficient time is allowed each week for each motion. I shall not suggest to the Taoiseach how he should arrange business, but I believe it should be possible to so arrange business as to allow one motion to be discussed fully each week.
I certainly would not be agreeable to surrendering any Government time for Private Members' Business. I recognise, however, that when the Standing Orders were drawn up the decision was to allocate time for Private Members' Business on Friday as well as on Wednesday. That has been frustrated to some extent by the practice of not meeting on Friday, a practice which has developed since the Standing Orders were drafted. I would be prepared to give consideration to any proposal which the Committee on Procedure and Privileges might wish to make after consideration of the present arrangements for Private Members' Business.
I should like to refer the Taoiseach to Standing Order 20 (1) in which it is stated:—
While the Dáil is in Session, and unless it shall otherwise resolve, the Dáil shall meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday...
This Dáil has not resolved to sit during this session on Wednesdays and Thursdays. According to Standing Orders we should be sitting from Tuesday to Friday, unless the Dáil otherwise resolves.
The Dáil does so resolve.
I suggest, with regard to the sittings next week then, that the Dáil resolves that we sit according to Standing Orders unless the Government notify the Dáil they wish to alter the days of sitting.
I think the Deputy misunderstands. The Dáil should meet according to Standing Orders on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, unless it decides otherwise. During the period in which meetings take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays only, the motion is put from the Chair at the conclusion of business that the Dáil adjourns until the following Tuesday. It is a decision of the Dáil. I accept that the original intention with regard to the provision of time for Private Members' Business is not fully effective. It is a matter, however, which should be referred to and considered by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It could not be settled by a private arrangement between Deputy McQuillan and myself.
I do not suggest it should be solved by a private arrangement between the Taoiseach and myself. I suggest it is a matter for the House and for all those Deputies who have motions on the Order Paper. If the Committee is not in a position to make a recommendation——
The Committee is the instrument of the House for dealing with these matters.
Each week that goes by reduces the opportunity for discussing these motions.
Not necessarily so. On occasions, and it could be done this session, if thought necessary, a special day would be made available for the disposal of Private Members' Business. The only point I want to make clear is that I am not prepared to surrender, in view of the legislative programme, Government time for Private Members' Business.
May I say——
The Deputy may not have a debate on the matter at this stage.
I do not want to move a motion in the House this evening, as may be necessary, if this is not resolved. Under Standing Order 21, we read that a Private Member is entitled on Wednesday to move that the House sit until 2 a.m., 4 a.m., or 6 a.m. I am concerned to see that all the motions on the Order Paper are heard. I do not want to have to take the decision every Wednesday to move that the Dáil sit until 12 p.m. If agreement is reached before next Wednesday that sufficient time will be made available for one motion per week, I feel sure that will meet the requirements of Deputies who have put down motions.
The Deputy need not give any ultimatum to the Dáil. There is a recognised procedure in this matter and the Deputy must resort to that procedure.
If the Taoiseach would direct the Government Chief Whip to take the initiative in referring this matter to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, we would quickly ascertain whether a proposal would come from that Committee which would protect the rights of individual Deputies. Then, if it did not, it would be open to Deputy McQuillan or any one of us to unmask our artillery in the House. The first thing to do, if the Taoiseach would do it, is to direct the Government Chief Whip to ask the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to discuss the matter forthwith——
I shall arrange with the Chief Whip to have it put on the agenda, if they wish to discuss it.
I did not raise this question without having given notice. Over a fortnight ago, I told the Government I intended to raise it today. I repeated that again today before Question Time. This matter has not been sprung on the Taoiseach out of the air. I am not issuing any ultimatum; I am standing by the rights of a Deputy. I am protected in my statement by the Standing Orders.
The House fixes the time.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges can meet next Wednesday morning or Thursday—I do not know which is the usual day.
May we take it that that arrangement will take place, namely, that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will meet in time to have a decision before next Wednesday night?
The Committee will meet in the ordinary way.
We meet next week on whatever day we usually meet.
Do we sit tomorrow?
From 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What about next week—Wednesday and Thursday?
Yes—and what the days of sitting after that may be will have to be considered in the light of the progress being made.
That also can be considered by the Committee.
On the matter of the sitting next week, Wednesday and Thursday, I wonder if any attention is being paid to Standing Orders which say that the normal sitting days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, unless the Dáil otherwise resolves? This House has to decide.
The Deputy can divide on the adjournment, if he wants to.
I shall raise this matter on the adjournment. I must have a ruling from the Ceann Comhairle on Standing Order No. 20 at this stage. It reads as follows:
(i) While the Dáil is in Session, and unless it shall otherwise resolve, the Dáil shall meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at 3 p.m., and every Friday at 10.30 a.m., and shall adjourn not later than 11 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and not later than 2.30 p.m. on Fridays.
I understand that that Standing Order is in operation and until the Dáil as a body decides to change the days of sitting to Wednesdays and Thursdays, we must abide by the——
At the end of each day's business, the Dáil decides the next sitting day.
Very good. I shall raise this matter again.