Am I entitled to raise a question at this stage? It may be out of innocence. Item No. 7 involves leave to introduce further Supplementary Estimates. I have not seen such a profusion of Supplementary Estimates.
Supplementary Estimates, 1980: Leave to introduce.
Leave granted to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the year ending 31 December, 1980:
Votes Nos.:—
9 (Public Works and Buildings),
38 (Roinn na Gaeltachta).
—(Minister for Energy).
That is not a question. There has been agreement on this matter.
Only 50 shopping days to the election.
May I not ask a question?
Is it a point of order?
On a point of order, is it in order that all the Supplementary Estimates should be introduced at this stage rather than have a mini-budget?
Of course it is in order. I am calling item No. 11.
Is this the correct procedure? This is a reasonable question. I am asking why these matters are not being dealt with by way of a budget rather than by Supplementary Estimates.
This is the normal way of dealing with these matters.
It has not been normal procedure since I came into this House.