On a point of order, I was not aware that questions were to be discontinued at 3.30. Would the Ceann Comhairle explain to us why the procedure has been changed?
Business of Dáil.
Standing Orders provide for questions on Thursdays from 2.30 to 3.30 unless by an order of the House that time is changed. No such order was made today. Consequently, the Standing Order is adhered to.
May I ask the Taoiseach, who is now present, whether this is a retaliation for my calling for a quorum at Question Time last week and whether this represents the small-mindedness of this open Government who should not be afraid of a two-and-a-half hours' session of parliamentary questions?
The Deputy should have been here at 10.30 this morning.
It does not represent either retaliation or small-mindedness. What has happened is that for a very protracted period time on Thursdays for questions has been extended to 2½ hours, an hour-and-a-half longer than usual. The Government have forfeited 1½ hours on two evenings a week for Private Members' Business which, again, is a departure from previous practice and is in accordance with the recommendations of the all-party committee but is the only recommendation that has been acceded to by the Opposition. In other words, it gives the Opposition extra time and denies it to the Government. Because of the volume of business, we felt that it was unreasonable to devote 2½ hours on Thursday continuously until the backlog is reduced.
Is the Taoiseach now saying that it has nothing at all to do with the calling of a quorum during Question Time last week?
I said what I said. What I said is quite clear and the Deputy heard it. Surely he understood it?
Next business.
A Deputy may have——
I have allowed a question on this matter. I cannot allow a debate to ensue.
The Taoiseach has been very helpful in giving information and I would just like to say, from a back bencher's point of view, that with only an hour on Thursday a Deputy may have a question down for months.
No, the new procedure is that questions rotate between each Department and for a considerable time questions have been taken not merely for an hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as is normal but an extra 1½ hours on Thursdays. The amount of time available for Government business has been reduced by three hours a week during financial as well as other business, which again is a radical change from previous practice. The Dáil is sitting longer and still the volume of business is not greatly reduced. There is a great deal of business to be got through and until it is got through we cannot allow Government time to be absorbed in Question Time.
May I make a suggestion to the Taoiseach? I understand and appreciate that time has been given and the reasons for its withdrawal at this stage. Would he consider extending the time of sitting on Thursdays until 6 o'clock and, on the other mornings, commencing at 10 o'clock and giving the extra half hour to questions? The Taoiseach will appreciate that the volume of questions and the backlog is becoming ludicrous. It may be a month before a question is answered and its relevance is very often lost before it has been reached.
I would certainly consider very favourably the Deputy's suggestion if the Opposition are agreeable to it. I do not mean today but we could consider it because, as far as I am concerned, we would be prepared to sit earlier on the long days, and I think it would make a difference. What the Deputy will appreciate is that because of the revised time table now being operated Government time is being given all the year instead of only at certain periods of the year and there is less time available for Government business even with the extended sitting.
I understand that but in this way we would not encroach and at the same time facilitate the taking of questions because we do not seem to be getting anywhere.
Is it not true that because of the 12-hour sitting which has become the practice on Wednesdays the Government get 4½ hours instead of the three hours they are giving away?
No, it has often been the practice at this time of year, to sit long hours on Wednesdays.
It is a pity the Taoiseach is not here every day instead of his Parliamentary Secretary.