It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 4, 5, 6, in No. 6 Votes 36 (resumed), 46, 38, 42, 50, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 28 and 49. Private Members' Business from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m., No. 15 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Last week, I put down three questions to the Taoiseach and they appear on this morning's Order Paper as questions Nos. 83, 85 and 87 to the Minister for Finance, although they relate to matters which are dealt with by the Taoiseach—The NESC and ESRI reports.
I am not responsible for the transfer of questions.
The Taoiseach is.
This has been normal procedure.
The Taoiseach must answer for matters which are the responsibility of his Department.
I am sorry, Deputy, but we cannot discuss this now.
Would the Taoiseach accept that he is responsible for the National Economic and Social Council?
We cannot discuss that matter now. It can be raised another way.
Does the Taoiseach accept that responsibility for these reports rests with him?
We cannot have a debate on this.
Deputies have some rights. If I put down questions to the Taoiseach or a Minister on matters for which he has responsibility, I expect him to answer them and not transfer them to another——
This has been common practice over the years. Questions have been transferred——
It has been a practice which has become too common over the last 12 months.
I cannot have a further discussion on this matter. Item No. 4.
The Chair is not responsible for shifting the questions. Will the Taoiseach tell us why he had them shifted?
The Deputy will appreciate that members of the Government have collective responsibility and it is not a matter for the Chair to decide who will answer questions. I am calling item No. 4.
If I put down a question to the Taoiseach on a subject which is his responsibility, what right has he to move it?
I have no responsibility about who answers questions.
The Taoiseach is already here in this House today——
We will not have a discussion on this.
We need not have a discussion if the Taoiseach tells us why he moved the questions.
Item No. 4.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Taoiseach tell us——
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
It certainly does. Question Time is part of the Dáil Order Paper and I am entitled to ask——
I am not allowing any further discussion on this. Deputy O'Keeffe.
This is a disgraceful practice on the Taoiseach's part and some measure will have to be found to make it——
That may be but it has nothing to do with the Chair.
I asked the Taoiseach yesterday about the resumption of the Dáil after Christmas. I understood from his reply that the matter would be communicated to us through the Whips. I gather from our Whip that we are still in the dark. When will the Dáil resume after Christmas?
I hope I indicated that the date of resumption was normally announced when the House rose. Subsequent to that. Deputy FitzGerald asked me if I would, for the convenience of Deputies, announce it earlier and I undertook to try to do that.
Would the Taoiseach tell us now?
I hope to be able to let the House know fairly soon.
Since the Dáil will go into recess next week——
We cannot have a discussion on this. The Deputy asked a question and it has been answered.
This is a simple question. Surely we could have been advised of that or has the Taoiseach other plans?
I told the Deputy I would let him know as soon as possible.
Is it the Government's intention to introduce legislation amending the Night Work (Bakeries) Act, 1936?
The Minister for Labour informs me it will be introduced during the next session.
When is it expected to publish the White Paper on the restructuring of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs?
In January.
If we put all the Fianna Fáil White Papers end to end they would not come to a conclusion.
These matters could be raised by ordinary questions.
When is it intended to introduce legislation dealing with local independent broadcasting?
I cannot allow this. No notice has been given——
When I gave notice my questions were transferred to somebody else.
(Interruptions.)
I am not having a further discussion on this. Deputy Collins on the Order of Business.
May I once again ask the Taoiseach or the Minister responsible for the date the White Paper on Education will be published, bearing in mind that under the terms of the national understanding it was supposed to be published on 14 November last?
That is the same type of question. I am calling item No. 4.
When will the White Paper be published?
Ten minutes of parliamentary time has been spent on the Order of Business.
I am asking a legitimate question on the Order of Business.
(Interruptions.)