It is proposed to take No. 6 (Vote 27, Supplementary, and Votes 27 to 33, inclusive and 20 to 25, inclusive) in that order; Questions at 1.30 p.m., by agreement.
Order of Business.
With your permission, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Questions 175 and 178 on yesterday's Order Paper as I believe there was a bit too much official complacency and complacency at Ministerial level on this problem.
The Chair will communictate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if it is the intention to move the writs for the by-elections after Christmas.
I cannot answer at this stage. It will not be before Christmas.
I know. There was an interjection here yesterday by a Parliamentary Secretary to the effect that it would be moved after Christmas.
It is likely.
Is the Taoiseach not prepared to give any indication as to when these by-elections will be held?
If they are to be moved after Christmas, that will not be until after the Dáil re-assembles, naturally, about the end of January. From there on.
They will be moved about the end of January?
Or February.
Can the Taoiseach say if it will take place before the next general election?
Will the Taoiseach say why there was delay in holding one by-election?
We were just finished the referendum and no Party wanted to get on to the hustings again before Christmas.
Maybe the Taoiseach is talking for his own Party.
Will there be a Cabinet reshuffle before that?
One can never tell.
There was no delay in filling the vacancy in the Seanad. That was done within two weeks.
That does not require a by-election.
Which is the more important House?
Mr. O'Leary
He wants to improve the quality of public life.
There are two vacancies here and they should be filled.
They will be.
I think it is unfair that the Fianna Fáil Party and the Taoiseach should be reluctant to say when the by-elections will take place.
There is an embarrassing reason why they cannot hold the by-election.
I said it will be held after Christmas but I cannot give the precise date.
It could be December, 1969 if you say "after Christmas".
There are a few little problems to be settled first, internal ones.
Will the House adjourn at the end of Questions?
I think they will hardly finish before 5 p.m.
In case they finish at 4.45?
It is agreed to adjourn immediately after Questions.