Vol. 185 No. 2
Tairgim:
"D'ainneoin aon ní contrártha dó sin sna Buan-Orduithe, go dtógfar gnó Comhaltaí Príobháideacha inniu ar cibé uair a bheidh gnó an Rialtais críochnaithe.
That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Standing Orders, Private Members' business shall be taken to-day at such hour as Government business shall have concluded."
The usual procedure under Standing Orders has been to devote a particular period each week to Private Members' Business. In recent times that arrangement has been disrupted to the disadvantage of Private Members of the House whose motions are on the Order Paper. I think it would be agreed by all Deputies that, where a motion is listed for discussion, Deputies who are concerned are at least entitled to a week's preliminary notice so that they may be refreshed in their own minds with regard to the subject matter of the motion concerned.
Within the past three weeks the position has arisen that the whole of Thursday in two different weeks was devoted to Private Members' Time and no prior notice was given to the Deputies concerned that their motions would come up, one after the other, on those two particular dates. I want to ask the Taoiseach whether we can have any indication at this stage that a certain period of time will be made available each week from next week so that all of us may know when our motions are likely to come under discussion.
The position at the moment is that two or three motions can come up, one after another, on Thursday and the only notification we get is when the Parliamentary Secretary comes in, as he did this morning, and states that the entire day on Thursday is to be devoted to Private Members' time. I appreciate the indication given last night but an indication of that nature is not sufficient to permit any Deputy to be in a position to deal properly with the subject matter of a motion.
I understand from the Chief Government Whip that various possibilities for a permanent arrangement are under consideration and discussion. So far as the Government are concerned, we shall certainly be very willing to consider sympathetically any proposal that may come up.
Is that indication that it is likely to be made available next week?
I do not know what the prospects of agreement with the Committee before next week are.
This matter was raised a fortnight ago.
This is a motion. The Deputy is speaking twice on a motion, which is quite irregular.
When the matter was raised, I expressed sympathy with the problems of private Deputies in that regard and recognition of the fact that the original purpose of Standing Orders was not being fulfilled by reason particularly of the desire of Deputies that Dáil Éireann should not meet on Fridays and I arranged that the matter would be raised at the Committee. It has been raised and I understand that discussions as to possible alternative arrangements are being discussed.
I think the Taoiseach will confirm that at the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges it was agreed that today's arrangement would be a temporary one?
On behalf of Fine Gael, I put forward a permanent suggestion.
There was a feeling that there should be a permanent arrangement.
