It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 5, 28; and in 28 Votes 42 and 41, No. 6 to be taken with 41; Nos. 25, 26, 8 and 27. If not already reached, it is proposed to interrupt business at 6.30 p.m. to take Nos. 25, 26, 8 and 27 and, when completed, to resume the order.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, is An Tánaiste aware it was agreed in this House on 9th December that the Second Stage of the Landlord and Tenant Bill, 1970, would be taken on the first sitting day of this year but despite this agreement, this Bill has not been printed? It has been on the Order Paper all the year and this is given added seriousness by the fact that the Bill will take effect from 3rd March, 1970——
The Deputy is not asking a question; he is making a speech.
The Whips can meet on this question. I have no information about the matter.
Is it not up to the Government to publish the Bill?
Has the Deputy no confidence in his own Whip?
Our Whip does not publish Bills.
Order. Would Deputy Bruton please sit down and stop shouting? I am calling the first item on the Order of Business.
May I ask An Tánaiste if he would order No. 4 for tomorrow, a Private Members' Bill, for First Reading?
That is a matter for the Government.
It is proposed to refuse permission to take this Bill.
It comes as a great surprise to me as one of the people who put down this Bill that the Government have refused permission for First Reading.
The Deputy may not discuss it at this stage.
I do not wish to discuss it but there is need for legislation which will provide greater deterrents against illegal drug traffickers.
This is not in order. These matters are usually arranged through the Whips.
With respect, I have asked the Government for a First Reading so that the Bill in my name and that of Deputy Richard Barry may be printed. An Tánaiste now tells the House that he is refusing permission to do this.
It is not on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)
I am asking only for a First Reading——
The Deputy is out of order, as I have told him already. The Deputy seems to make his own rules in this House.
I have asked An Tánaiste a question.
An Tánaiste has replied to the Deputy that the Government are opposing the Bill.
On the Order of Business, was there an understanding that the Labour Party would have a Private Members' Motion taken before Christmas? Was there such an understanding between the Whips?
Can An Tánaiste indicate when time will be made available for a Private Members' Motion or Bill from the Labour Party?
The Whips could discuss that matter.
In the absence of our Whip, can the matter be arranged with the Deputy Whip of the Labour Party?
Certainly. It is a matter for the Labour Party to nominate the Motion.
Just that? Will we get it before Christmas?
The Labour Party will get this time whenever they want it. That was the agreement.
On the Order of Business——
We cannot discuss this matter. The Deputy is aware that he is out of order.
Can An Tánaiste explain——
An Tánaiste would not be in order in explaining.
Can An Tánaiste even indicate when his own legislation will be coming before the House? This Bill only contains provisions——
The Deputy may not discuss the Bill at this stage. I cannot allow the Deputy to enlarge on this at this stage.
It is a simple Bill and does not involve any budgetary measures.