It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 13, 14 and in No. 14, Votes 41, 40 and 42. Questions will be taken at 3 p.m.
Order of Business.
Might I ask the Taoiseach whether he is prepared to make time available to discuss the problem that has arisen in CIE in connection with recent proposals to close further branch lines and will he make that time available before the House goes into recess?
The answer is in the negative.
There is on the Order Paper a Private Members Bill, No. 2, dealing with that very problem. I understood the Taoiseach to state to Deputy Dr. Browne within the past three weeks that within a few weeks he was prepared to have the matter considered. Has the Taoiseach given any further thought to the matter?
The Estimate for the Department of Transport and Power has yet to be taken. It would provide ample opportunity for discussing transport policy in all its aspects.
The Taoiseach is not prepared to make a statement about No. 2?
As regards these Private Members Bills, I am prepared to order them for First Reading on any day that Deputies want. I do not want to order them for a day the Deputies may not be here.
I appreciate that.
Does that apply to the Industrial Relations Bill?
It applies to all of them.
I do not know what the procedure is but I understood that if I notified the Taoiseach's Office, or the Chief Whip, that I would like to raise this on a Tuesday or Wednesday, that that was sufficient.
I am talking about the First Reading on which there would be no discussion.
I see.