It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Nos. 1, 6 and 7. It is proposed that public business be not interrupted to take Private Members' business.
Order of Business.
On 22nd May, I addressed a question to the Minister for Local Government in relation to an important matter for my constituency. May I ask the permission of the Chair to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 27 on the Order Paper of that date since I was denied an opportunity of raising it on that date?
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
There seems to be some misapprehension or misunderstanding about this. If I remember correctly, the Deputy was not denied the right to raise this matter. He was given permission to raise it on that night and some three hours after getting permission, he withdrew on some pretext or other that he would not be available——
That is not so. The facts are that I was denied a quorum in this House when I addressed the Chair on this question. Accordingly, I am now asking permission to raise it tonight.
I am talking about Tuesday.
I am accepting the notice and I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Even the Deputy's colleagues shunned him.
The Tánaiste should should keep out of it.
In view of this statement by the Tánaiste, may I make it clear that we, in this Party, have asked you, as Ceann Comhairle and Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to consider an amendment which would maintain the status quo that has existed here for the past 40 years and by which every backbencher of every Party is entitled, whether he is able to retain the support of the big battalions or not, to raise in this House questions appropriate under Standing Order 20 and to make sure that he brings the Minister to this House for that purpose because that is the ultimate essential method of ensuring that Question Time is a proper democratic protection.
It is a matter of record in relation to this question that Deputy Flanagan raised it on Tuesday and so far as I was informed by the clerk of your office, Sir, I was given to understand it was on that night— Tuesday night. I had available in the House all the documents and officials concerned and three hours later, I was informed that the Deputy who had wanted to get the question on Tuesday found that he was no longer available for some reason or other that I think he should have known about earlier——
Surely the Chair recalls that I was denied the right on Wednesday? Is it not a fact that the Chair very graciously gave me permission on the Wednesday to raise this matter of such great importance to my constituency and that while I was addressing the Chair, Deputy de Valera directed the Chair's attention to the fact that there was no quorum present, whereupon the Chair summoned a quorum and when no quorum was forthcoming, adjourned the House?
Deputy de Valera was the usual ray of sunshine.
Could I draw the attention of the House to the inconsistency of the main Opposition Party in accepting an amendment of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges——
This is becoming a debate and there is nothing before the House.
It is only five words— an amendment of Standing Orders which restricts the rights of Private Members——
It does not. It prevents you from trying to get more than your fair share which is what you are deliberately trying to do.
Deputy Dr. Browne will please resume his seat.
This is a completely hypocritical move on the part of——
That is completely untrue.
Order!
This is just damned hypocristy.
You have had 40 years of changing from side to side.
I never changed my policy.
Most people think you are still "red".
Stop that kind of talk.
He was not too "red" for you at one stage.
Nor for you. You campaigned with him and asked people to vote for him. You should be the last to say that.
Now that the Tánaiste has left the House and there is peace——
I cannot have any further discussion on these lines. There is nothing before the House.
May I take it that I am on for the Adjournment Debate?
I am not saying anything but that I shall communicate with the Deputy in the course of the afternoon.
Thank you very much.