It is expected to take business in following order: No. 1 and No. 7 (resumed). Private Members' Business, which will be taken from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., will be No. 79 by agreement. By agreement also it is proposed that the Dáil will adjourn for the Easter recess at the conclusion of business next Thursday and will resume on Tuesday 15 April.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, may I ask the Taoiseach if, in view of the unexpected postponement of the European Summit, it is his intention to seek a meeting in the immediate future with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom regarding Northern Ireland?
It is not in order to raise that question. It does not come within the terms of anything on the Order of Business.
For the information of the Deputy and the House generally, it is hoped that the Summit will be reconvened pretty quickly.
The Taoiseach indicated that the question of Northern Ireland could not be discussed adequately at the Summit meeting. Is it his intention to seek a meeting with the British Prime Minister in the immediate future in order to discuss Northern Ireland?
I think we should wait until the Summit takes place first. I imagine the British Prime Minister is fairly preoccupied at present with the questions which will be dealt with at the Summit.
That is hardly putting it as the Taoiseach's first political priority. When the Taoiseach eventually gets round to seeking a meeting with the British Prime Minister regarding Northern Ireland, is it his intention to seek a commitment of intent to withdraw by the British——
It is not in order to discuss this matter in this manner. The Deputy is aware of that.
Surely it is in order.
If it was in order we would have all matters discussed.
If the Deputy is not aware at this stage of the Government's policy in regard to Northern Ireland, he is one of the very few people in Europe who is not.
The country is waiting for it. Where is the Taoiseach's policy?
In view of the fact that the Dáil is to adjourn for the Easter recess, and in view of the indications given by a leading banker that the bank interest rate will be raised by approximately 2½ or 3 per cent, would the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance make a statement?
We cannot have discussion on that matter. It is a total infringement——
It is not an infringement.
If the Chair were to permit questions to be raised in this manner, as I have pointed out repeatedly, the Chair could not constrain any Member from raising any matter.
I am not asking for a reply now. I am asking the Taoiseach—and this is quite in order on the Order of Business—in view of that indication by a leading banker, before the recess will the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance make a statement.
It is not in order to raise this matter on the Order of Business.
In view of this indication by that leading banker, and having regard to its consequences upon our economy and on small business——
The Deputy may not discuss that matter now. He knows that, and he is raising it by means of a device.
I am raising it at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.
It is not appropriate to raise it now, and it may not be raised now.
When will the appropriate time be?
It is the Deputy's duty to ascertain what it is in order to do.
I have ascertained that, and my information is that this is the appropriate time.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I sought to raise this matter by way of Private Notice Question and you, Sir, disallowed that question. I now want to give notice that I propose to raise it on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I do not wish to come into conflict with the Chair, but surely it is appropriate in these circumstances to ask the Taoiseach if he or the Minister for Finance will make a statement before the Dáil adjourns for the Easter recess. Surely that is a reasonable request.
It is not in order. The Chair is not trying to muzzle Deputies in any way.
You could have fooled me.
Deputies must appreciate that, if the Chair were to permit matters reported in the papers to be raised on the Order of Business each day, we could be here all day dealing with matters just because they appeared in the papers.
If it is not accurate that is all the more reason why the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance should dispel the concern which has been raised.
Is it the Taoiseach's intention to make time available for a statement in this House condemning the assassination of Archbishop Romero who was nominated by many Members of this House for the Nobel Peace Prize, and who was such an outstanding champion of justice and human rights——
It is not in order to raise this matter.
I felt it might be appropriate that a short statement would be made in view of the fact that Archbishop Romero was nominated by many Members on both sides of the House for the Nobel Peace Prize and having regard to the feelings of outrage all over the world at this assassination. I thought the Taoiseach might make time available for a short statement tomorrow condemning this assassination.
This is not the time or the place or the manner in which to raise this matter.
I am asking the Taoiseach, who has the responsibility, if he would make time available. I do not want to make any unseemly mess.
The Deputy did that at the week-end.
On a point of order, Sir, I want to point out that I feel your ruling is unfair and unjust——
Which ruling?
On the question Deputy O'Keeffe raised. This morning the British House of Commons debated this subject. It highlights the irrelevance to which this House has been reduced that we cannot raise urgent important matters of international and national concern.
That is not so.
I am sorry. It is so, and is frequently so.
The Deputy is imputing motives to the Chair.
I am talking about Standing Orders.
The Chair is merely upholding a ruling which is sacrosanct so far as the Chair is concerned.
It should not depend on how benign the Chair is or the Government are.
Unless the Deputy moves to change Standing Orders——
It is perfectly reasonable for Deputy O'Keeffe to ask for a statement to be made about the assassination of Archbishop Romero who was nominated by many people on both sides of this House for the Nobel Peace Prize.
What about ten minutes tomorrow?
Despite your ruling, Sir, the Taoiseach might wish to make a statement.
The Chair would not wish the Taoiseach to do so. The Chair is opposed to questions being answered which are raised irrelevantly. Otherwise the Chair is being held up to ridicule.
This highlights the problem of the inability of Deputies to raise urgent matters in this House, and this is reducing the House to an irrelevancy.
Deputy Mitchell is well aware that matters of urgent public importance can be submitted for consideration as to whether or not they may be raised. They can be submitted in writing and a ruling obtained prior to the Order of Business.
Would the Taoiseach consider the matter?
The manner in which Deputies stand up and raise matters without notice is not in order. This is not a new ruling.
The Taoiseach has been leader of a new Government for more than 100 days and in view of that, and the fact that the Dáil will go into recess this week, I should like to know if time could be made available for a debate on Government policy relating to Northern Ireland.
It is a matter the Deputy should raise with the Whips.
Deputy Cluskey suggested that time be made available for a debate on foreign affairs—I presume that included Northern Ireland—and I indicated that when the budget debate was concluded I would not be averse to making time available. However, so far we have not had any approach from either of the Whips about this matter.
In view of the fact that there is deadlock as a result of the postponement of the Northern Conference, the fact that we have a contribution to make and the fact that there is an obligation on us to take the initiative——
The Deputy could have fooled me.
——would the Taoiseach, in spite of his reply, set aside one day for a discussion on the Government's policy on Northern Ireland?
The Taoiseach has answered that question.
I should like to know why I cannot get a reply to this important question. Is it possible to have a one-day debate on Northern Ireland?
I have indicated that if a matter is raised by the Whips it will be favourably considered. This side of the House does not have any wish to prevent the House discussing anything which the House wishes to consider. We abide by the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle and I suggest that things must be dealt with in an orderly way. Subject to that, we are anxious to meet the Opposition on any of these matters.
Can we discuss the Government's policy relating to Northern Ireland?
Would the Taoiseach agree that on two occasions when I raised the question of a debate on foreign affairs he indicated that he would not be averse to such a discussion but he did not make any reference to the fact that such a debate would have to await the conclusion of the debate on the budget?
It does not necessarily have to await the conclusion of the debate on the budget. I should like to state categorically that since Deputy Cluskey raised the matter in the House there has not been any approach by the Labour Party Whip, or any member of the Labour Party, to the Government Whip about this matter.
It is all hypocrisy in the House and that is all.
Surely the Taoiseach wants an opportunity to put his proposals forward?
I can assure the Minister for Foreign Affairs that we would never try to enter into a contest on hypocrisy with him; we would concede immediately. If the Taoiseach is serious about a debate he will give an undertaking now and say that he is prepared to allocate Government time.