Can we be informed in future of statements the Taoiseach might make?
Order of Business.
I understood I was required by normal practice to make that statement because such a statement was made at the formation of each Government.
On the Order of Business, I was informed at 12.15 p.m. that the Opposition had withdrawn agreement which had been reached on the taking of Estimates without debate. Because of the absence of agreement on accommodation in this House between the Whips, I should like to say that I hope the accommodation problems arising from the change of Government and the enlargement of the Dáil by 18 Members——
On a point of order, I understand the Ceann Comhairle called the Order of Business. It seems that the Taoiseach at this stage should announce the Order of Business.
I wished simply to extend a courtesy to the Leader of the Opposition, if he would allow me to finish a sentence. I hope this problem will be settled equitably and amicably in due course and I am willing to meet the Leader of the Opposition to discuss it, if he should wish to do so. In these circumstances, the Order of Business will be as follows: Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 11, 2, 3, 12, and 13 with the Estimates in the following order: Nos. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, in the Education group.
No. 42, Labour, Nos 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the Public Service group; Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22 and 53 being the Finance Bill with Supplementary Estimates on Nos. 12 and 22; No. 52, Energy, with Supplementary Estimate; Nos. 46 and 47, Defence and Army Pensions; No. 43, Industry, Commerce and Tourism; No. 44 Transport with Supplementary Estimate; No. 45, Posts and Telegraphs; Nos. 37 and 38 Fisheries and Forestry; No. 39, Gaeltacht; Nos. 3 and 5, the Department of the Taoiseach and An Comhairle Ealaíon with Supplementary Estimate on No. 3; No. 29, Environment; Nos. 40 and 41, Agriculture, with Supplementary Estimate on No. 40; Nos. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, being the Justice group; No. 51, Health; No. 50, Social Welfare, with Supplementary Estimate; Nos. 48 and 49, Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.
I suggest that this is the most extraordinary behaviour by a Government for many a long day. As yet we have no written notice of this Order of Business. Will it be customary for the Government to let the Opposition Whip have the Order of Business in writing at some stage before the Dáil assembles and, if so, why has this practice not been adhered to today? We were supplied with a note very late today of the items read out, namely, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1, 11, 2, 3, 12 and 13. The Taoiseach has now read out a list of Estimates but we have not received a written list of these Estimates. Are we to get it now?
Yes. The Leader of the Opposition's injured innocence ill becomes him. The Order of Business was notified to the Opposition in respect of the items on the Order of Business. They had agreed to the Estimates being taken without debate. That agreement was withdrawn without notice at 12.15 today which made it necessary for the Government to decide in what order the Estimates would be taken and to sort out the availability of Ministers to move the Estimates and to deal with any points raised. In the short time available we have managed to do that and to give the House full information on the order in which the Estimates will be taken. That work was completed immediately before the House sat. There was no discourtesy involved, although I cannot say that much courtesy was shown on the other side. Despite that, as I said in my earlier remarks interrupted by the Leader of the Opposition, I would be anxious to settle this accommodation problem, which was the reason given at 12.15 for the change in what had been agreed. I would wish to settle the matter as rapidly and as amicably as possible and would be happy to meet Deputy Haughey to discuss it.
We did not make any agreement about taking Estimates or Supplementary Estimates because we have not seen the Supplementary Estimates. My understanding is that until we reach No. 8 on the Order of Business leave will not be given to introduce these Supplementary Estimates. I do not see how they could be ordered before No. 8 is reached.
We were given verbal notice this morning of some of the items on the Order of Business and only very late this morning did we receive the typewritten notice of the Order of Business. That notice did not include the list of Estimates which the Taoiseach has now read. In future will the Opposition receive the Order of Business the evening before or the morning the Dáil assembles or when is it the Taoiseach's intention that we should be furnished with written notice of the Order of Business?
The normal procedures will be followed in future. They have broken down on this occasion because of the withdrawal of an agreement which, contrary to what the Deputy says, was reached on the Order of Business. It is, of course, correct that this agreement did not extend to the Supplementary Estimates. Simply as a matter of courtesy to the House, I mentioned, in listing the Estimates in the order in which they will be taken, those in respect of which Supplementary Estimates will arise. I felt it might be useful to the Opposition to be aware of this. So far today each courtesy I have extended has been met with interruption, rejection or criticism. However, that is a matter for the Opposition.
May I have an answer to my question? When is it proposed to furnish the Opposition with written notice of the Order of Business?
In accordance with normal practice.
When we are in Government we normally supply the Opposition with notice of the Order of Business the evening before if possible or certainly before 10 o'clock on the day the Dáil assembles. Will that practice be adhered to? Will written notice be supplied which will not subsequently be changed?
Of course. I am not quite sure what this complaint is about because I understand that the Opposition received the written order last Friday.
Regarding sittings of the House, can the Taoiseach give some information about the days on which it is proposed to sit this week and during the remainder of the time before the Summer Recess?
When this business has concluded in accordance with times to be proposed in a motion which I shall be putting to the House shortly regarding sitting times, the Dáil will adjourn until Tuesday, 21 July. With regard to the recess, it will be our hope, with the co-operation of the Opposition which they were good enough to offer when the change of Government took place, to conclude business by the end of the month. We cannot, of course, guarantee that.
Perhaps if the Taoiseach wishes that co-operation from us he will give us an indication of what business he proposes to transact from 21 July onwards.
I shall do so as soon as that business has been arranged. I am not in a position to do so at the moment. I assure the House that the Opposition will have that information as soon as the programme for the next sitting week is available.
There is a delightful air of uncertainty about this. Will the Taoiseach keep in mind the fact that most Members of this House have been through an arduous general election campaign, their family——
(Interruptions.)
——plans for holidays have been disrupted and in the ordinary interests of humanity it would be desirable——
(Interruptions.)
——that everybody in the House, both Members and staff, would know exactly where they stand in regard to sittings this summer? Am I to take it that the Order of Business which the Taoiseach has read out will be dealt with this week or as time unfolds, that thereafter we will adjourn until 21 July, that we will then reassemble for some business as yet undecided upon which will be dealt with between then and the end of July and that we will adjourn until——?
Until a date to be fixed.
Can we have any indication at this stage that the business will be dealt with between 21 July and 31 July?
No.
So we just came back for the sake of having a chat.
(Interruptions.)
The Opposition will appreciate that there has been a change of Government. That having happened, we are as anxious to facilitate the House as are the Opposition. Certain legislative business has arisen from the fact that a new Government have come into office, a Government which have entered into certain obligations to the electorate which they intend to fulfill. The preparation of that legislation and the analysis of which aspects require legislation and which can be done by order is something which will be completed shortly. I intend to convey to the Leader of the Opposition as soon as possible, in as much detail as possible, the legislative programme so that the Whips may enter into consultations about the scheduling of it and so that the House may adjourn at the earliest possible date for the convenience of Members having completed its business.
The Taoiseach indicated that it will be necessary to fulfil some of the election promises and that the action to be taken arising from these election promises is now under examination and that that examination covers whether the action to be taken can be dealt with by order or by legislation. If that examination has not been completed how is the Taoiseach in a position to say that any legislation will be necessary and why is he recalling the House on 21 July?
Because it is evident that certain legislation will be necessary. As soon as the nature of that legislation is clear we will have a comprehensive picture which we will put forward. It will be difficult for the Whips to discuss effectively the management of business so as to conclude on 31 July unless they have a complete picture of what is involved and I am anxious to give that picture to the Opposition as soon as possible.
Apart from what aspect of business will be dealt with by order or by legislation, will the Taoiseach give us an indication of the general areas which will be covered? We on this side of the House are in great difficulty at this stage as we have three separate documents before us and we are not quite sure yet what portion of what document will be implemented. We have a Labour Party election manifesto, a Fine Gael manifesto and the cooked up joint document. Will the Taoiseach say in regard to the programme he has in mind on what document we will be working? Will we be working on the Gaeity Theatre document——
(Interruptions.)
——and, if so, on what sections of that document will we be working, or will we be going back to the original Fine Gael document now that the Taoiseach has bought off the Labour Party?
The election is over.
(Interruptions.)
The Leader of the Opposition is putting on a performance that would merit an appearance at the Gaiety Theatre.
(Interruptions.)
Our programme contains a number of commitments not all of which can be fulfilled at once. But, as was made clear in the documents, there are certain matters of urgency in relation to the economy which need to be dealt with and these take priority. Where it is necessary to get growth in the economy we will take urgent action. Other matters may await legislation later and in some instances it may be only necessary to indicate intended legislation, but in some cases legislation will be required in July. It is the sorting out of this to ascertain the minimum legislation necessary for the sake of the country to get the economy moving again which is nearing completion and the Opposition will be notified as soon as possible.
If we on this side of the House wish our efforts to be constructive we should direct our attention to the Gaiety Theatre document.
(Interruptions.)
That contains the subjects which are likely to be dealt with between now and the summer recess. In regard to the question of accommodation, is it the Taoiseach's intention that we adjourn now and discuss this matter?
No, it is the intention to proceed with the Order of Business. I will be happy to meet the Leader of the Opposition at the earliest opportunity to discuss this. I recall that difficulties arose on the last occasion about this, even though we did not have the same problem of numbers, and it took quite a while to sort it out. My party found themselves substantially in exile for a few months. That should not be allowed to happen again. Arrangements for accommodation in this House within the limits imposed by the present accommodation should be sorted out on an equitable basis with an allocation of space proportionate to the non office holders in the different groups and to the Independents. I would like to meet not merely the Leader of the Opposition but also the Independents to discuss this allocation of space. The sooner that is done the better because it is very unsatisfactory for Deputies of all parties, particularly the Opposition to be left in the present situation.
Ba mhaith liom cead a fháil ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach mar cheannaire an Rialtais. The seriousness of the joint Oireachtas Committee Report on RTE, which was published this week and circulated to Deputies is a very important matter. Part of the contents of the report have been denied by Mr. Waters of RTE.
Deputy Flanagan is not permitted to raise this matter now.
In view of the conflict of opinion between the report and the Director General of RTÉ will the Ceann Comhairle order the recalling of the witnesses to ascertain who is correct? If Mr. Waters is correct the report is not and vice versa. This matter is very disturbing to the general public.
(Interruptions.)
This matter does not arise and neither it nor any questions on it can be raised at present.
With great respect, this matter concerns the Chair as the Head of the Dáil and it concerns every Member of the Dáil. We are faced with a conflict of opinion. The Taoiseach or the Ceann Comhairle should be able to give some guarantee as to what steps will be taken to ascertain who is correct.
It is not in order for Deputy Flanagan to raise this matter now but he can raise the matter by way of question in the normal way or, through his party, for inclusion in the Order of Business at the appropriate time, but not now.
No, this is a matter for yourself, a Cheann Comhairle.
I am afraid not. I have allowed Deputy Flanagan a lot of latitude but I cannot permit him to discuss the matter further. I am very sorry.
He is the father of the House, after all.