It is proposed to take Nos. 18 and 19 on the Order Paper. If not already reached, it is proposed to take No. 19 at 7 o'clock. There will be no Private Members' Business.
Order of Business.
I should like to get some information from the Taoiseach. The Budget is being introduced on next Wednesday. Perhaps the Taoiseach could tell me what procedure it is proposed to adopt, and for how long. The Budget is introduced, certain proposals are either accepted or rejected by the Dáil, then there is a debate which lasts anything from one to three weeks, and to complete the proposals it is necessary to have a Finance Bill. Will the Taoiseach say if it is proposed to engage in all this procedure before a dissolution or a recess?
There is no reason why one should anticipate that that procedure will not be followed.
I am not trying to be smart.
Of course, the Deputy is.
I am looking for information.
The Deputy will not get that information. The same procedure will be followed this year as every other year.
I only want to know is it necessary, in order to complete all the Budget proposals, to have the Finance Bill passed.
Yes, because the Budget proposals have only a limited effect from the statutory point of view.
The Taoiseach gets very petulant about these things. As regards the general election——
(Interruptions.)
They have all resigned.
The election will be before you have all your troubles fixed anyway.
In view of the present uncertain situation and the undesirability of the uncertainty, both from the point of view of the general administration of the country and the economic situation, would the Taoiseach give a clear indication to the House and to the country as to whether or not he proposes to have a general election this year?
I wonder how naive the Opposition Deputies can get. That is why they are over there.
Would the Taoiseach consider following the example of Captain O'Neill? Or perhaps he should have done what General de Gaulle did after the referendum.
We never ran away from a Budget.