Vol. 331 No. 3
I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £350,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1981, for the salaries and expenses of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including certain grants-in-aid, and for certain expenses in connection with the European Assembly.
It is almost 5 o'clock and I wonder, in the circumstances, if we could adourn the debate on this Vote to next week?
We cannot do that because there is agreement that Votes 2, 7 and 12 would be taken before 5 o'clock. We must proceed in accordance with that order.
I am sure that in the normal way other Members would like to contribute to the debate on these three Votes.
The Deputy will appreciate that there was agreement between the Whips on this matter. It is the order of the House that those three Votes shall be concluded by 5 o'clock and that is what the Chair must do.
I am sure the House could agree to amend that order.
That is possible, but on the other hand we cannot accept such a motion. In the case of a vote arising it would have to be postponed to next Tuesday. We cannot have a vote today on any motion and we must proceed with the order. Is the Vote agreed?
What is it for?
The Houses of the Oireachtas.
Are we going to be told what the money is for?
I have only been given these files in the last three minutes.
May I have the stencilled piece of paper.
The Chair would like to explain that he has no responsibility in the matter of what should be available, stencilled or otherwise, to any Member.
I am not suggesting that the Chair should supply it but I am looking for it from the usual sources.
The Minister for Finance would have moved these but he is at some vital meeting. I can give the Deputy a copy of the Estimate but I do not have a speech.
The Estimate was not circulated this morning and, therefore, we do not have any details at all.
I am told it was circulated this morning.
I got two Supplementary Estimates in my post this morning, one for Trade, Tourism and Commerce and the other for Agriculture.
The Chair understands that it has been circulated.
Since this morning?
My information is that they were circulated earlier.
Is Deputy O'Malley accepting the order made, that we must conclude business by 5 o'clock?
