It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos, 1, 6, 7, 9 (resumed), 10, and 11. Private Members Business from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. will be No. 21 by agreement.
Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach arrange discussions between the Whips to provide Government time next week or as soon as possible for a debate on industrial relations? The Taoiseach will agree that this Government came in on the promise that they would do something about this as a matter of urgency and their record——
I am sorry, Deputy, that is not in order. I cannot allow it.
Surely it is in order in accordance with precedent to ask on the Order of Business that time be allowed for a debate?
No, I am sorry.
(Cavan-Monaghan): On a point of order, the Taoiseach is on record in several places and on a national basis as having said that he would introduce certain measures to deal with industrial relations and therefore this question would appear to be in order.
It is not. If this were allowed the Taoiseach could be asked about providing time for any subject.
We are entitled to do that.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I understood your ruling to be that, where measures had been promised by the Taoiseach which would entail the proceedings of this House, the question was in order. I submit that the Taoiseach could not have promised these measures more widely. He promised them in a speech which was built up for days beforehand and said measures were at an advanced stage which he proposed to introduce. I respectfully submit to the Chair that on that basis it is in order.
I am sorry. Originally it was a matter of asking this question; it is now a matter of whether this was promised or not and I will accept it on the latter basis.
I asked the Taoiseach whether he would initiate discussions between the Whips with a view to providing Government time as soon as possible for a debate on industrial relations, in view of the fact that his record, despite——
That is quite a different matter.
I am entitled to ask the Taoiseach if he will provide Government time for this matter.
No, I am sorry. I am allowing Deputy Fitzpatrick's question on the basis that it relates to a matter which was promised.
On a point of order, is it not a fact that it is common practice in this House to inquire about the Government's intentions in regard to ordering business and that such an inquiry is made at this juncture of the day, seeing that the Government determine business? You, a Cheann Comhairle, have been in this House over 20 years and you have heard that question being asked and politely answered on countless occasions.
I have already pointed out that matters which can be raised on the Order of Business relate either to matters which have been announced by the Taoiseach or which are on the Order Paper or which have been promised.
I will rephrase my question. I ask the Taoiseach whether he will provide time as soon as possible to fulfil his promise, given on several occasions by himself as recently as the date he was elected Taoiseach and in a broadcast to which Deputy Fitzpatrick has referred and which has also been given regularly during the past 12 months by three or four of his Ministers, to introduce measures to deal with the present chaotic state of industrial relations, which he recognised as a matter of priority.
I am not accepting the statements from the Opposition benches about promises in regard to legislation, but I am prepared to arrange that the Whips should meet to see whether time can or should be provided for a debate on industrial relations.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Taoiseach propose to introduce the measures which were promised by himself and the present and former Ministers for Labour to deal with industrial relations?
We cannot have a discussion on this matter.
(Cavan-Monaghan): With respect, you said you would allow that question.
Not a debate on it.
We on the Government side sometimes find ourselves in a position where the Opposition demand something but when we offer it to them they change their ground and look for something else. What Deputy Barry asked originally I am prepared to offer, that is, that the Whips should meet as soon as possible to see if a debate on industrial relations can or should be held.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Taoiseach has not answered my question. He is hedging, just as the Ministers for Labour and Finance have hedged.
I ask the Taoiseach when the terms of the motion, which he has indicated today it is the Government's intention to impose on the House next Tuesday, will be available.
Impose on the House?
That is what the Taoiseach said today. There is no agreement regarding a limited debate. The Taoiseach's offer of a three-and-a-half hour debate was in order to try to pre-empt the Labour Party's Private Members' motion on neutrality. We all know that and it is quite obvious that the Taoiseach did not want a comprehensive debate. When will the Taoiseach make available the terms of the motion which he is imposing on the House in his effort to pre-empt the Labour Party's motion?
I understand that is necessary to give a number of days' notice for a motion of this sort and that requirement will be adhered to.
Will we have a debate——
The offer of a debate ——
No, I am sorry Deputy. The Deputy asked a question and I am allowing the Taoiseach to reply.
The Deputy has made statements and I am surely entitled to some rights in this House.
We are prepared to give two days — we are offering two days.
The Deputy asked a question and the Taoiseach is entitled to reply.
I have indicated that the motion which we will propose to the House can be the subject of discussion between the Whips as to whether it will be taken and as to what time will be allotted to it. That motion will be circulated by us in plenty of time in accordance with Standing Orders. The offer by the Government to Deputy Cluskey and others to have a three-and-a-half hour debate on defence was put forward by us in good faith in response to insistent statements from Deputy Cluskey but when Deputy Cluskey was offered it he ran away from it.
Deputy Mitchell.
On the Order of Business, will the Taoiseach say if the terms of the motion will deal with the principle of neutrality here or with defence policy?
The Deputy will see the motion.
I cannot allow any further discussion.
I am not looking for discussion.
But there is a discussion going on.
I am looking for clarification. Will it be the principle of neutrality or will it deal with defence policy?
I cannot allow a discussion on that.
Surely if the Taoiseach announces, as he did here during Question Time, that we are going to have a debate next Tuesday the subject matter should be disclosed. We are entitled to be aware of the subject matter.
I cannot allow a discussion. I allowed the Deputy to ask the question and will the Deputy please leave it at that?
We are not even to get the subject matter?
I am sure the Deputy will when the motion is distributed.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Mitchell.
The Deputy is incorrigible.
On the Order of Business the Taoiseach offered to discuss between the Whips a debate on industrial relations. We on this side of the House are keen not to prejudice the talks in relation to the petrol strike and——
I am sorry Deputy, we cannot have a discussion. I allowed a question and that was sufficient.
I do not intend to detain the House but we feel very strongly that industrial relations——
Please Deputy.
——should be sorted out. We have offered co-operation on the radio to the Taoiseach——
(Interruptions.)