It is proposed to take business in the following order: No. 7 (Resumed), No. 8 (Resumed) and No. 9 (Resumed). Business will be interrupted at 3.30 p.m. to take No. 9 and the order will not be resumed thereafter.
Order of Business.
Could I ask the Taoiseach, in view of the statement that was made last night on the television programme by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Government were seeking a partnership administration within the present constitution in Northern Ireland——
I am sorry, Deputy, but that does not arise on the Order of Business. I have listened to what the Deputy has said and I am informing him that it is not in order on the Order of Business.
If I were allowed to conclude not only would it be within the Order of Business but it could be extremely constructive and in the best interests of the country. Could I ask the Taoiseach, in view of that and of the question of a relationship between Ireland and the UK, this part of Ireland and the North, but within the present constitutional position of Northern Ireland, with the exception of a possible departure on neutrality and defence, in what way does the Taoiseach's policy towards Northern Ireland differ from that of his predecessor. Deputy Jack Lynch, which this party could support? If there was clarification from the Taoiseach and he confirmed what the Minister said last night, this party might then be in a position to support the Taoiseach's policy.
I am sorry, Deputy. I have allowed the Deputy to ask his question and I have ruled that this is not in order on the Order of Business.
Would you allow the Taoiseach to answer it?
No. If it is not in order the Taoiseach cannot answer it.
(Interruptions.)
On the Order of Business, surely I would be in order? Could I ask the Taoiseach if he would make a statement in the House today clarifying his position on Northern Ireland and how he differs from his predecessor?
No. The Standing Orders lay down the procedures for asking questions. If Deputies have questions to ask they should submit them in the usual way either by three days notice——
On a point of order——
Will the Deputy allow me to finish, please?
On a point of order——
The Deputy will not raise a point of order while the Chair is speaking. The point I am making is that if Deputies wish to ask questions they can ask them in the usual way. I want to make it clear that I am not obstructing Deputies in legitimately following any matters they want to raise in the House. I am trying to ensure that we will not have a chaotic situation on the Order of Business. If any Deputy were allowed to rise here and simply say: "This is a very important matter I want to raise on the Order of Business" we would have chaos. I am sorry, but I cannot allow it. It is not in order.
(Cavan-Monaghan): This is a chaotic situation.
Is the Chair suggesting that a possibility of my party being able to support the Taoiseach if he is, as would appear, pursuing the same policy as his predecessor, is not a matter of national urgency?
The matter may be of urgent national importance but it is not in order to raise it on the Order of Business.
The Order of Business allows for precisely that.
It does not. I have already stated on many occasions what I accept on the Order of Business. I am adhering to that until such time as the House decides to change it.
If the Taoiseach wishes in the national interest to clarify his position either inside or outside the House and you so refuse——
I am sorry, Deputy, I deprecate the frequent efforts being made by various proposals of Deputies to raise matters on the Order of Business which they must know very well are not in order. If Deputies wish to raise matters they have a variety of ways in which they can do it. They can raise matters by parliamentary question, they can have motions discussed for three hours in Private Members' Time, they can discuss changes in the law, if they wish, by introducing Bills and they can have them discussed for six hours. I am not obstructing any Deputy from pursuing matters at the proper time but in so far as the Order of Business is concerned I have laid down what I believe is in order. I propose to adhere to that until such time as the House decides to change it.
On a point of order and for clarification, can the House not, by agreement, vary the Order of Business and the Taoiseach can intervene?
Is it not a case whereby the House, by agreement, may vary the Order of Business and is it not the case that the Taoiseach may, by agreement, make a statement to the House?
No. In so far as I am concerned the Taoiseach announces the Order of Business and that is the position.
Is it not the case that there is provision, frequently used after every European Council meeting when, by agreement, the Taoiseach makes a statement to the House? Is that not in order?
That is a different matter.
If it is in order for the Taoiseach to make a statement to the House surely Deputy Cluskey is in order in asking if the Taoiseach will make a statement to the House? I take it you are not ruling against that.
It is a matter for the Taoiseach if he wishes to make a statement but it is not a matter to be raised and a question asked in relation to it on the Order of Business. That is the point I am making.
In view of the ruling you have made now could I respectfully ask the Taoiseach if he would today make a statement to the House?
I am sorry Deputy. It is totally out of order on the Order of Business.
That is incredible.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair has told us the Taoiseach can make a statement if he so wishes and there is nothing disorderly in the Taoiseach doing what the Chair says he can do.
That is not correct. I said it was a matter for the Taoiseach to decide if he was going to make a statement but not on the basis of a question being asked on the Order of Business, which is out of order.
On the Order of Business, I would ask the Taoiseach if in view of the collapse of a number of firms in the last couple of days and in view of the imminent collapse of a number of other companies, he is willing to have a special debate in the House——
That is not in order, Deputy. I am sorry.
——or to take whatever appropriate steps are necessary to ensure that the jobs of these people are protected.
I am sorry, Deputy, that does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am asking the Taoiseach to concern himself with the protection of jobs here.
I am sorry, but that is not in order and the Deputy should be well aware of it.
I am asking for Government time for a debate on an important topic.
I give notice that I intend to raise on the Adjournment the question of the sale of the Saint George fishery.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of the closure of the factories in County Mayo.
I will communicate with the Deputy.