Before the Taoiseach leaves the House, may I say that I understand it has been agreed to take Private Members' Business after Public Business tomorrow. Perhaps that might be formally confirmed by the Taoiseach in the House now.
Private Members' Business. - Business of Dáil.
Yes. For the information of Deputies, it has been agreed, through the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, that on the completion of certain items of Public Business tomorrow, the rest of the time will be available for Private Members' Business.
With Questions at 3 o'clock?
Yes—Questions at 3 o'clock.
Will Government business last for any length of time?
Not being a prophet, I can only mention that the items of Government business that will be ordered will be quite small.
I am not a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I have no access to what takes place there, except through this House. Have we reached the situation now where Private Members' time is sprung on Deputies whose names are attached to motions, without any notification or warning whatever?
No.
I cannot allow the decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to be discussed in this fashion. There is nothing before the House at the moment. I must call——
The decisions of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges are recommendations, so far as this House is concerned. This House must decide whether to accept the decision of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. On that basis, I put it to the Chair that I am entitled to criticise any motion before us.
There is no motion. It is a matter of courtesy.
The Government have agreed to give time tomorrow after the items they are concerned with have been dealt with. Private Members' Time may then be taken.
Are we to take it that the only notification to Deputies is that the matter is sprung on them at 8.20 p.m. because the Government have no business on hands?
The Deputy may not continue discussing the matter.
I have no intention of doing so. It is a disgrace when this House is supposed to be sitting for two days of the week.
We asked the Taoiseach to make this announcement now, as a matter of courtesy. He need not have said anything. This matter is open for discussion when business is ordered tomorrow morning. It was with the desire to avoid springing it on any Deputy that we asked the Taoiseach to make a statement which he has very kindly done. The matter will be determined on the Order of Business at the opening of tomorrow's proceedings. It will then be open to anybody to raise an objection, if he so desires.
I think the Standing Orders say that the Order of Business is the function of the Government, not of the Dáil. I want to say in relation to a point made by Deputy McQuillan that the Independent Deputies are represented on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I have said that this was a unanimous request from the Committee.
Motion No. 21 in the names of Deputies Wycherley and Finucane.
Is the Minister for Agriculture here?
On a point of order, the question I think is disorderly. On a point of courtesy, I would explain that the Minister for Agriculture is tonight giving a reception to the chairmen of the county committees of agriculture. He did not anticipate that this motion would be reached. He is being contacted. Tomorrow, a Bill to set up a Milk Marketing Board will be introduced. I hope the House will agree to take it next week, if possible. In the circumstances, Deputy Wycherley might consider his remarks could more properly be made on that Bill. In other words, I am informed the Government will do tomorrow what they are being asked tonight to do.
My motion has been on the Order Paper for the past 12 months. Therefore, I shall proceed with it. I shall expect the Minister for Agriculture to reply to the debate.
The Deputy would be better off without him. He is useless.
The business was concluded earlier than I expected. In the ordinary course of events, Deputy Wycherley's motion would take another three hours. Whilst we have protested to the Taoiseach that we have not had enough time, and have not had it for years, for Private Members' Business, we now find ourselves in a situation in which Deputies are not prepared to take their motions. I do not know if Deputy McQuillan is prepared to take his motion now.
I am not prepared to have half a dozen motions churned out, one after the other, as is the intention of the Government.
We all appreciate that it would be impossible, at such short notice, to start talking on a motion. I suggest the House adjourn for, say, half an hour.
Deputy Wycherley is obviously prepared to go ahead with his motion.