It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 3, 5 and, in No. 5, Votes 50, 39, 29 to 34 inclusive, 44, 43 and 42.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, there is an hour-and-a-half allocated for Education Estimates. May I take it the Minister will take a quarter of an hour and the spokesmen for Fine Gael and Labour half an hour each and the Minister to reply for another quarter of an hour? May I take it that is agreed?
The motion governing the time allocated is Item No. 3.
May I take it that will be the procedure adopted on the Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Education?
I understand there is no agreement on the procedure I would hope that a kind of gentleman's agreement would emerge. The Deputy will recall that on previous occasions that did not happen, but I would hope it would happen today and on Tuesday next.
I suggested a breakup of the time allocated and the Minister for Health. Deputy Haughey, agrees with it. If the Tánaiste would also agree, that is a gentleman's agreement.
Who should be arranging the time? The Whips?
It is a question of what Deputies want to speak.
It is a question of what Deputies want to participate within the time allocated.
It has to be done on each Supplementary Estimate in the light of those participating but, as I said, I would hope there would be co-operation on both sides which would allow a reasonable division of the time available. There is no agreement on that but, as I said, I am sure the Deputy will recall occasions in the past when that did not work out. However, I hope it will work out now.
I am aware of disagreements on numerous occasions, and not only in the time of the last Government, and what I am putting forward is a gentleman's agreement in regard to Education, namely, half an hour for the two spokesmen on this side in Fine Gael and Labour and a quarter of an hour for the Minister to introduce the Estimate and a quarter of an hour for him to reply, making a total of half an hour.
We will have to take it as it comes on each Vote. An effort will be made, if there is co-operation all round, to try to give adequate time to each side.
I have put forward a suggestion.
We are not squabbling but, even at top speed, it may not be possible for me with all the things with which I must deal. In reply, I look forward to castigating both Opposition spokesmen.
It is the Minister's speech in reply we are looking forward to.
Are the Government basically in agreement on my suggestion?
Is this being made an order of the House?
A gentleman's agreement.
A Cheann Comhairle, before you call Item No. 3, you asked if the suggestion made was being made an order of the House. I think it is foolish to assume that everyone who is a Member of the House is automatically a gentleman.
There are a few ladies too.
Too few.
Would it not be desirable—there seems to be a consensus—that there should be an allocation of time given to each party and have that made an order of the House.
The motion before the House has been agreed by the Whips and any further agreement which would involve an allocation in the case of each Vote would require careful working out and consideration. It is not possible to do that here. The most we can do is what I have already indicated.
Surely, when Deputy Collins suggested a time allocation, the Tánaiste indicated he hoped that would be the agreement.
The Tánaiste did not indicate any such thing. He asked how long it would take the Minister for Education to deal with five or six Supplementary Estimates. We are not going to squabble.
The Minister is taking up our time.