It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and in No. 9, Vote 47. If not already reached, it is proposed to interrupt business at 1.30 p.m. to take Nos. 7, 8, 9—Vote 47— and resume the order after Questions
Order of Business.
Might I ask the Taoiseach if, in view of the possibility of a cessation of printing as a result of the present printers' dispute, any arrangements have been made to print the Dáil agenda and other documents necessary and also whether consideration has been given to the possibility of giving more extended coverage to Dáil proceedings on Telefís Éireann and Radio Éireann?
I assume that for the time being the Dáil will have to work on stencilled documents and as far as Radio Éireann and Telefís Éireann are concerned, I assume the Director-General and Board of Radio Éireann will make the necessary arrangements.
May I also inquire, on the Order of Business, whether the Taoiseach can indicate when it will be possible to give time for the Fine Gael motion on housing?
I have also a request from the Labour Party for a discussion of housing. The Housing Bill will be circulated this weekend and I suggest that the appropriate course for the Dáil would be to take the Second Reading of the Bill and discuss it in conjunction with the motion to which the Deputy refers.
I suppose we can wait until we see the Bill.
Can the Taoiseach say when the Prices Bill will be circulated?
This weekend.
Quite apart from the actual texts of the Bills that normally would be printed and which may have to be dealt with by some form of stencilling, it is impossible to consider the Finance Bill on Report Stage unless we have an opportunity of considering carefully the Minister's remarks on the actual amendments in Committee and I think there should be a limited number of copies of the typescript report of the debate made available to Members for the purpose of considering them in relation to the proceedings of the House.
I shall see if that can be arranged.
The Order of Business suggests that Nos. 7, 8 and 9 will be taken at 1.30. I assume that Nos. 7 and 9 will be taken together?
Yes.
As read out by the Taoiseach, it seems as if the Social Welfare Bill will be taken first, then the Local Elections Bill and then the Estimate.
The Bill and the Estimate will be discussed together.
But as expressed here they are separate.
Yes.
It does make it rather awkward because if the Minister proposed to move his Estimate immediately after No. 7, and that is understandable, it has to be debated, but if there is to be a discussion in between——
The Social Welfare Estimate has already been discussed and passed by the Dáil. It is merely a legal requirement that makes it necessary to present it to the Dáil again. I understand that the Estimate and the Bill will be discussed together.
If the Taoiseach had been in the House, he would realise that it was travelling over very wide fields.
That is not unusual.
According to the Order, we are taking Nos. 7, 8 and 9 but Nos. 7 and 9 are to be discussed together——
Make it Nos. 7, 9, 8.
For the record.