It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2, 7 and 1. In item No. 7 the Votes will be taken in the order in which they appear on the Order Paper. Private Members' Business will be from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. with item No. 15 resumed.
Order of Business.
I regret raising this matter without giving the Taoiseach notice but I have not had an opportunity of doing so. I would like to ask him whether he would be willing to consult through the whips to see if it would be possible for a report to be made to this House today on the course of the fishing negotiations in Brussels in view of the disturbing reports which we have read this morning. I recognise we cannot expect an answer immediately but would the Taoiseach consider a consultation with the whips to see if something of the kind would be possible?
I will consider that.
Has the date for the budget been fixed yet?
Yes.
Would the Taoiseach mind telling us?
I was ready to tell the Deputy yesterday but he never asked.
I asked three times last week.
I was so overjoyed that one of my constituents was made Minister for Finance that it slipped my mind.
Subject to the convenience of the Opposition it is proposed to resume on Tuesday, 27 January and have the budget on Wednesday, 28 January.