It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, the Second Stage of Items Nos. 3, 4, and 5 and item No. 11; Private Members' Business from 7 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. — Item No. 17.
Order of Business.
In relation to motion No. 10, I understand that Madame Simone Veil has sent a letter to the Taoiseach about our procedural method of nominating rather than electing members of the European Parliament. Will the Taoiseach state if that is so and, if so, would it be possible to have a copy of that letter placed in the Dáil Library before the debate?
I have not received that letter yet but on receiving it I will certainly consider putting it in the Library of the House if Deputies wish that to be done, unless, of course, it contains anything that would be inappropriate to be in the Library of the House, which is most improbable.
Will the Taoiseach be good enough to explain to the House why he has refused to give Government time to the Opposition for the motion we put down on the very important matter of the future of the Tuam Sugar Factory?
In accordance with the precedent and practice for a long time past such a motion, if the Opposition wish to raise it, is an appropriate one to take in Private Members' Time and we have agreed that it should be so taken.
I recall that, on any occasion when the previous Government were asked by the Opposition to facilitate them with Government time for important economic or social issues of this kind, we always endeavoured to meet the wishes of the Opposition. I want to complain to you, a Cheann Comhairle, that the Government have seen fit on this occasion to deny us Government time for a debate on this very important issue. May I ask the Taoiseach if he has come to any decision about the motion we intend to move tomorrow morning for the writ for the Cavan-Monaghan by-election?
I think I should not anticipate tomorrow morning's business. As the Opposition say, this will be coming up tomorrow.
For the benefit of Members of the House who are deeply interested in this matter, could the Taoiseach not give us some indication about this matter?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Curiosity killed the cat.
Wait and see.