It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 9, 4, 10, 11, 5, 12 (resumed) and 13 (resumed). Business will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. to take Nos. 12 (resumed) and 13 (resumed). Private Members' Business, No. 18 (resumed), will be from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
With the permission of the Chair I wish to raise on the Adjournment a matter concerning the distribution of butter under the EEC cheap butter scheme.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach if the Government have yet decided when the Dáil will adjourn and whether there will be an Adjournment Debate.
A request for an Adjournment Debate has been made and it is not going to be resisted. I believe the Whip of the Deputy's party suggested that the Adjournment Debate start on the Wednesday and conclude on the Thursday before Christmas week. It has been indicated that that is acceptable and I am surprised that the Deputy asked the question.
I am more concerned with my next questions. When will the Dáil be resuming after the Christmas Recess and on what date will the budget be announced?
The Deputy is a bit premature now in his inquisitiveness. Perhaps he will ask those questions later.
How much later? It is a matter of some interest to the country.
We did not get that information very readily before but, perhaps, towards the end of the session.
If the Taoiseach looks at the record he will see it shows otherwise.
As soon as the information is available the Deputy will have it.