It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 14.
Death of Member. - Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, the Taoiseach is aware that there are at least two motions of no confidence. One is a general motion and the other is a specific motion dealing with a particular Minister. In view of the fact that these motions are on the Order Paper can the Taoiseach indicate whether it is proposed to provide time this evening or tomorrow morning after the discussion on the first two Financial Resolutions in order to consider this? The Taoiseach will appreciate that in present circumstances it is unreal to discuss any other business in advance of these motions. In order to facilitate the business of the House we would be prepared to consider the first two Financial Resolutions on the understanding that the no confidence motion be taken this evening or in the morning.
I propose to make time available at the earliest possible moment for discussion on the no confidence motion. No motion appears on the Order Paper although they have been tabled. The Government are anxious to proceed immediately with the Financial Resolutions and to have them implemented in the interest of the economy. I would propose then to make time available starting as from next Tuesday for these motions of no confidence.
So far as the nonappearance on the Order Paper is concerned, that is a matter for procedure in the Dáil Office, but they have been tabled in adequate time — certainly one of them. In view of the extreme urgency of the resolving of these grave matters I suggest that the motion should be taken tomorrow morning rather than next Tuesday.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
If the Opposition would facilitate the passage of all three Financial Resolutions I would consider that favourably.
The Taoiseach can get no guarantee of that until we see the proposals.
I cannot give a guarantee either.
Would the Taoiseach be prepared to introduce a motion into this House for the establishment of a Select Committee under Standing Order No. 67 in order to inquire into the manner in which the £100,000——
That does not arise. The Deputy may not raise that matter without notice. The Deputy is not in order in raising that. The Deputy should have given notice of that proposal.
Did the Ceann Comhairle get notice from Deputy Cosgrave?
That arose directly from the Order of Business.
I am only asking would the Taoiseach be prepared to set up a committee to inquire into the disposal of the £100,000 which Members of Dáil Éireann voted for the relief of distress in the north?
There is a question tabled on the Order Paper dealing with this matter. The question is tabled to the Minister for Finance.
The Taoiseach made reference to it in recent pronouncements and said that the Garda were investigating. I believe the Members of this House who voted the money——
We cannot have a discussion on this. Deputy Cosgrave gave notice of a private question. The Chair ruled the private question out of order. I cannot see how the Deputy can get around it by raising the matter now.
There are provisions under Standing Orders of this House to deal with such a matter. Deputy Corish is only inquiring whether the Taoiseach will consider setting up the appropriate machinery.
Had the private question been allowed I would have referred to the Garda inquiries. I think that must be sufficient reason for not going further with this in the House at this particular stage.
Could we not deal with the matters in order? I suggest to the Taoiseach that a reasonable approach to the business is to deal with the first two Financial Resolutions. The General Resolution can be postponed to a later date, either adjourned this evening or tomorrow, and we could take the motions of no confidence tomorrow.
I will put this to the Deputies opposite: if they will agree to take all three Financial Resolutions, debate them to the conclusion and vote on them this evening, then I will favourably consider starting immediately with the motions of no confidence but reserving the right to myself to table a substantive motion.
I can understand the Taoiseach's difficulty, but the position is that the House is entitled to express its opinions separately on the two motions which have been put down — one a specific motion of no confidence and the other a motion of censure on the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the then Minister for Defence, for a Dáil statement last May. I suggest to the Taoiseach that the most expeditious way of disposing of the business is to agree to take those tomorrow and to have a discussion on the general Financial Resolution next week.
If we knew from the Opposition how they propose to debate the three resolutions, we could then proceed with the business. My proposition stands: if the motions are taken and voted on this evening, we can arrange a motion subsequently to debate the financial situation——
Surely the third resolution is a general taxation resolution as is normal in budgetary procedure — it is necessary in order to implement the proposals. As Deputy O'Higgins has reminded me, the last Dáil was dissolved while such a motion was being discussed. The Taoiseach has made a suggestion of whose nature we do not know anything.
The three resolutions will be specific. There will be no general resolution of the nature normally taken in a Budget debate.
Why not?
Will the gales die down or will there be an area of low pressure?
Will the Deputy stand up and make a speech? I will give way.
I will, by asking a question to help Deputies Corish and Cosgrave. I should like to know what changes, if any, have taken place since last night within the Fianna Fáil Party as far as the three boys are concerned?
I regret interrupting the Deputies but if I may proceed I should like to explain that the first two resolutions are of such a nature that they will require to be passed quickly. The third resolution will not require to be passed so quickly. There could be a general debate on the third resolution and I have no indication how long the debate on that motion will take. For that reason, I am anxious to ensure that all three will be passed, and on that understanding I am perfectly willing to commence the debate on the motions of no confidence immediately after the three resolutions have been passed.
We are as anxious as the Taoiseach to test the confidence of the House, and I am sure he is anxious to test the confidence of his party. We will not prolong the debate unduly but I cannot enter into any commitment now——
Let the business develop.
We reserve the right to raise this matter during the debate and to raise again the question of the no confidence motions. The Office of the Minister for Finance informed the Opposition that a general discussion could take place on the third resolution. Since then, events elsewhere have overtaken that undertaking, which was expressly given on the understanding that the first two resolutions would be taken through normal budgetary procedure.
I am asking for an undertaking but the Opposition are refusing to give it. I will ask the Minister for Finance to explain.
We do not know what the resolutions are. We know what is in the motions of no confidence.
Deputy Cosgrave inadvertently may have used the wrong word when he referred to an undertaking from my Department. What he got was information to the effect that the first two resolutions would have to be taken quickly but that the third one need not be. That is the information he has been given by the Taoiseach today.
That means there is no hurry with the third resolution.
It does not. It is one that must be enacted but, as the Taoiseach has pointed out, we do not know how long the intervening debate will take. We cannot take that chance with financial resolutions.
We could set a time limit.
Deputy Corish cannot give me an undertaking.
Not until we see what is in the resolutions. It would be unreasonable for the Taoiseach to expect us to give an undertaking in these circumstances.
I am perfectly willing to give an undertaking to go ahead with the motions of no confidence next Tuesday or as soon as the Financial Resolutions have been passed.
Surely this is an unsatisfactory arrangement. There is no time limit suggested. The motions could be taken and the no confidence debate could go on on Friday and Saturday.
And All Saints.
And Sunday.
Can we get an undertaking to that effect — that it will be finished this week? Deputy Corish will not give an undertaking until he has seen what is in the Financial Resolutions.
That is right. The Whips can discuss it.