I move:
That Standing Order 121 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended by the deletion of the words "fourteen days prior to the consideration thereof, and not later than the first" and the substitution therefor of the words "seven days prior to the consideration of the ordinary yearly resolutions imposing taxation, and not later than the thirtieth".
The amendment to Standing Order 121 proposed in this motion was recommended to the Dáil by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in the Report circulated over the weekend.
The Standing Order at present provides that the ordinary yearly Estimates be presented to the Dáil and circulated to Members not less than 14 days prior to the consideration thereof and not later than the first day of April. This was necessary when a Vote on Account and a Central Fund Bill had to be passed before 1st April each year. Since the passing of the Central Fund (Permanent Provisions) Act, 1965 the necessity for an annual Vote on Account and Central Fund Act has ceased.
In these changed circumstances the Committee considered that the Estimates should be presented before consideration of the Financial Resolutions and not later than 30th April. The Standing Order would then read:
"The ordinary yearly Estimates for Public Services shall be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members not later than seven days prior to the consideration of the ordinary yearly resolutions imposing taxation and not later than the thirtieth day of April."
I recommend the amendment to the House.
