Before we start questions could I raise a matter which is not exactly a point of order but it is a matter affecting the privileges of Members of the House? We have now reached a point where some Ministers are answering questions on only one day a week, Thursday, and it could happen that it might be a fortnight before a question is answered. What is the procedure in getting something done about this?
Committee on Finance. - Business of Dáil.
The Chair has no control over the number of questions and where there are so many questions on the Order Paper the most the Chair can do is to ask for the co-operation of the House in limiting supplementaries so that questions on the Order Paper may be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. It is not a matter for the Chair. I think the House has some responsibility.
The Ceann Comhairle will appreciate that we cannot get through more than 80 questions normally and we have more than twice that number on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It means that the same Ministers are not answering questions every week until Thursday.
Cannot written replies be given to Deputies where, for example, the Deputy has no intention of asking supplementary questions, particularly in the case of questions where there is merely a request for information?
Yes, Deputies may ask for written replies to their questions.
Put questions down for written answers.
If you put a question down here it goes to the Minister, of course, and some Deputy of his own Party gets the information by letter before the question is answered.
They would not do that!
You can be three weeks without an answer to a question.
I appreciate that.