Vol. 287 No. 3
It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 12 (resumed) and 5. No. 5 will be taken at 6 p.m. and the order will be resumed thereafter. In accordance with established practice, it is not proposed to allow time for Private Members' business during budget week. Accordingly, to conform with Standing Order No. 82 I move:
That during this week, Government business as ordered be not interrupted if under consideration at the time fixed for taking Private Members' business.
On the Order of Business, the Taoiseach announced and subsequently moved that there will be no Private Members' business taken this week in accordance with standard practice as this is budget week. I submit there is no standard practice in relation to Standing Order No. 82 which was introduced since the last budget, as far as I know. This is the first time this situation has arisen. Standing Order No. 82 provides that Private Members' business will be taken on Tuesdays and Wednesdays unless a member of the Government moves to the contrary. The Taoiseach has so moved, as he is entitled to do. However, I challenge the suggestion that it is according to standard practice.
I come now to the motion we were hoping would be taken in Private Members' time this evening and tomorrow. I quite understand that it would not be taken tomorrow but I do not see why it should not be taken this evening. I refer to motion No. 42——
I am sorry to interrupt the Deputy. Is the Motion relating to Private Members' business being opposed?
Yes, on that basis. I am explaining the reason. Motion No. 42 refers to the need in the present economic circumstances of the Government ensuring that State-sponsored bodies, and especially Irish Life in the context of their placing abroad an order for the purchase of furniture to the value of £200,000, should place such orders at home. By the decision of the Chair in relation to Standing Orders last week we were denied the opportunity of raising this matter. We were advised by the Chair's office that the only way to raise it was by way of a Private Members' motion. We have conformed with that advice and I submit to the Taoiseach that he should permit this motion to be debated this evening because it is a matter of urgent importance, there is great public interest involved and there is also the principle involved, especially in these difficult economic times.
I appreciate what the Leader of the Opposition has said but the practice is that during budget week Private Members' business has never been taken to my knowledge. The present Standing Order is a revision of an earlier Standing Order. It came into effect in 1974 and during two budgets last year I do not think we had Private Members' business.
In view of our failure to raise this matter last week, a matter that was outside our control, and because we believe it is important that it should be raised this week, I propose to challenge the Order of Business.
I had my usual conversation with the Opposition Chief Whip at the end of last week and, as usual, he told me which motion the Opposition would have wished for if there was time this week. The practice established between Deputy Lalor and me is that notwithstanding the fact that a new motion put down by the Opposition has not got any precedence or priority on the Order Paper we normally agree to take it because we recognise that the Opposition usually want to raise a matter that is topical. If that can be done no objection is raised on this side.
Before the end of the week, having consulted the Minister most nearly responsible, I told Deputy Lalor that there probably would not be agreement to taking Private Members' time this week, not only because there was no precedent for doing so in budget week but also because the Minister concerned happened to be the Minister who will present the budget. He should not be asked to defend some aspect of his departmental responsibility in Private Members' time, either on budget day or the day before. I made it clear to Deputy Lalor that had the Opposition asked for any other motion, whether one on the Order Paper or even one submitted towards the end of the last week, the Government probably would have consented to have it taken this week if it involved a different Minister. I hope the House will be clear on the Government's position in regard to this matter. There was no anxiety whatever to closure the Opposition in general with regard to Private Members' time but this particular motion——
On a point of order, the Standing Order provides that this matter will be decided without amendment, I suggest also without debate. Obviously the Parliamentary Secretary is trying to start a debate. He raised points I could answer very readily and if there is to be a debate I will do so.
I propose to put the question.
Two years ago this matter was debated very fully and Deputy Lynch spoke for four columns——
I am putting the question to the House.
