It is proposed to take business in the following order: 1, 2, 3, 8 (resumed), 9, 10 and 11 (resumed). Private Members' Business from 7 to 8.30 p.m. will be item No. 21 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Deputy Peter Barry on an application under Standing Order No. 30.
Under Standing Order No. 30 I want to move the adjournment of the House to discuss the price increases, announced on 12 March last which will lead to a further increase in inflation. My reason for asking this is that it appears that the Government do not have any plan to deal with inflation.
We cannot discuss that.
I think I can because it says in Standing Orders that I may give briefly my reasons for asking that this be done. It appears that the Government do not have any plan to combat inflation and their actions in the 1980 and 1981 Budgets have led to further increases in inflation and have made it more difficult——
The Deputy should simply make his request.
This is a matter of grave and urgent importance and we need to discuss it.
The Deputy is entitled to make his application——
And explain briefly.
Not under Standing Orders.
Under Standing Orders I may state the matter——
You have stated the matter.
The Government do not appear to have——
The Deputy is making a speech.
I want the Government to give the House an opportunity to deal with the urgent matter of inflation.
Would the Deputy please obey the Chair?
Certainly.
I regret I am unable to allow the Deputy's application under Standing Order No. 30 since it does not meet one of the requirements considered as necessary by the Committee on Dáil Procedure 1972, namely, that the matter proposed to be raised must be one that has arisen suddenly.
(Interruptions.)
Would Deputies please allow the Chair to continue? Inflation in the form of increases in prices has been with us for very many years. In each of these years there have been increases in prices of many goods and services. The increases now referred to cannot be held to have arisen suddenly but, on the contrary, are part of a continuing process which has been discussed in this House on various occasions.
I must accept your ruling that this matter has not arisen suddenly. Indeed, it has been with us——
I am sorry, Deputy. I have given my ruling and the Deputy must accept it. We cannot have a discussion on this.
The House is entitled to an explanation of the Government's plans to deal with inflation.
The Chair has given a ruling. I am sorry but I cannot allow further discussion on this.
Will we be given any chance to discuss inflation and its effects on employment, prices and loss of jobs?
The Chair is dealing with a specific application. The Chair has dealt with it, ruled on it and that is the end of the matter.
Will the Taoiseach make Government time available——
We have already dealt with this.
On the Order of Business, are we entitled to ask the Taoiseach——
In fairness to the Chair, the Chair was asked to deal with a particular application. He dealt with it, ruled on it and there should be no further discussions on it. I am calling item No. 1.
Can we not ask the Taoiseach on the Order of Business whether he will make time available to deal with the Government's plans to deal with inflation?
My ruling does not preclude the Deputy from trying other procedures. I decided that it was not possible to allow the Deputy to proceed under Standing Order No. 30 nor can he continue to discuss it here.
May I ask your advice? Who is responsible for ordering business in the House?
The Taoiseach obviously.
On the Order of Business may I ask the Taoiseach——
No. On a number of occasions I have ruled on the conditions under which matters can be raised on the Order of Business. As I said before, until that is changed by the House I will adhere to them——
Arising out of your ruling, Sir, you came to a judgment regarding the rate of inflation. When you were making up your mind, did you consult the Fianna Fáil manifesto——
I am sorry, Deputy, I am calling item No. 1, Deputy Timmins.
(Interruptions.)
Last Wednesday, Sir, you kindly allowed me a question on the adjournment, Question No. 40 of the previous day, which related to the opening of the Celtic Sea to herring fishing. Due to the early adjournment of the House because of a break in the agreement on the debate——
Please do not make a speech.
——I was not able to take it up on the adjournment. I am asking that I be allowed this question tonight.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
When will the Government face the House on inflation?
We have just had a budget debate.
(Interruptions.)
Every week a budget.
We had a budget last week——
Would Deputy Timmins please move Item No. 1?
I would like to give notice that I intend to raise on the adjournment the question of the sale of the Saint George Fishery to a group of French people.
I will communicate with the Deputy.