It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 10 (resumed) and 11. No. 11 will be taken at 6 p.m. and the order will be resumed on its completion. By agreement, there will be no interruption this week for Private Members' Business.
Order of Business.
Under No. 12 there are a number of Supplementary Estimates. When are they being taken and will an opportunity be given to have them debated?
I understand the Opposition have been in communication with the Government Whip and that the suggestion was they would be completed before the adjournment. I understand that the understanding is that the Adjournment Debate would be interrupted for a period to dispose of them. We are agreeable to accommodate the Opposition in this respect.
Although it was suggested there might be time made available, I think it was also suggested by the Government Whip that such time would be taken out of that allotted for the Adjournment Debate. Under No. 12 there are 16 Supplementary Estimates in all, and only a fraction of them have been circulated. I and members of my party do not know what will be contained in these Supplementary Estimates and we therefore feel we will have to reserve the right to debate some or all of them. It would be unfair that time would be taken out of the short period being made available for the Adjournment Debate and I put the suggestion to the Taoiseach that he extend the time before the adjournment of the Dáil to allow for this. I suggest specifically that the period between 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday be set aside for the Supplementary Estimates.
That is more or less the suggestion I mentioned—that some of Thursday morning would be devoted to a debate on the Supplementary Estimates. I gather from the Leader of the Opposition that he would like the time available for the adjournment motion to be extended. We will consider that.
Has it been decided on which date the Dáil will resume after the Christmas Recess and has the Taoiseach any information as to when the budget will be introduced?
I have received word that the Opposition are not agreeable to debate the Committee Stage of the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Bill in a Special Committee, consequently it will be necessary to resume rather earlier after the Christmas recess than it had been intended because the intention is to dispose of that Bill before taking the budget.
Will the Taoiseach indicate what he meant when he spoke of the intended date of resumption?
Stephen's Day.
The Taoiseach has not answered the second part of my question.
Again, that has not been decided.
When will the Book of Estimates be circulated?
I hope in adequate time.
One more question: do the Government know where they are going?
They certainly do.