It is proposed to take item No. 10. It is also proposed that, in relation to item No. 10, the speech of each Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes and the debate shall be brought to a conclusion not later than 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
I now call on Deputy John Ellis to move a motion.
May I seek clarification from the Taoiseach on the Order of Business in relation to today's business?
The proposal for the 20 minute slots has not been approved by the House at this point.
I shall have to deal with that matter. I take it the Deputy is objecting to the Order of Business? I am putting the question: "That the Order of Business, as announced by the Taoiseach, be agreed".
No, that is not the point, a Cheann Comhairle. The proposal is that Members' speeches be confined to 20 minutes. That has to be approved by the House. It is not the actual taking of item No. 10 but approval of the time constraints on Members. I have a point to make in relation thereto if you choose to call me.
I presume it has been agreed by the Whips.
A Cheann Comhairle, it has not been agreed by the Whips.
It has been agreed by the Whips. The Deputy agreed yesterday.
It has not been agreed by the Whips. I take it you are still in the Chair, a Cheann Comhairle.
Sorry, I did assume it had been agreed by the Whips.
The matter of the 20 minute slot has not been agreed by the Whips, but that is not the point I wish to make. I understand it is not proposed to call in the normal way spokespersons for each party. Normally the proposer would be called, then the spokespersons would be called in turn. I understand that procedure is to be dispensed with today. Will the Chair insist that the House proceed in the normal way by allowing the debate to proceed following the calling of spokespersons?
Matters of this kind are usually for the Whips to determine. If the Deputy is in doubt about the matter, I ask the Whips to discuss it and determine the manner in which Members should be called.
The Government Whip and the Fine Gael Whip have indicated that they do not propose to allow spokespersons to be called and that the debate will proceed by way of Government speaker, Fine Gael speaker, Government speaker, Fine Gael speaker and so on. The effect would be that a Labour Party speaker would not be called until some time in the afternoon and it is doubtful whether I would be called.
Perhaps we could guarantee that Deputy De Rossa would be called.
It would be far better if the House proceeded in the normal way with the calling of spokespersons representing each party in turn. The debate would follow in the normal way. That has been the procedure for as long as I have been a Member.
I ask the Whips to reconvene early to determine this matter, perhaps on the lines indicated by the Deputy. The Chair is quite neutral in the matter.
So are we.
In relation to today's business, if other members of the Cabinet express the views expressed by the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Reynolds, will the Taoiseach come before this House in the course of today?
That question has already been asked and I have indicated that I will follow all the proper procedures in any eventualities that may arise.
That is a warning to all.
How many ministries will the Taoiseach have by the weekend?
I doubt if Deputy Rabbitte will ever be in that position.
Are all the hatches battened down?
(Interruptions.)
I raise a matter relating to the Tribunal being held in Dublin Castle. I do not intend to go into detail or in any way to breach the sub judice ruling. Will the Taoiseach indicate who is representing the public interest at the Tribunal in view of the remarks yesterday by Mr. Hickey that he is representing the regulatory authorities against whom allegations have been made? There seems to be a conflict of interest between the Attorney General who, one would assume, is acting in the public interest and Mr. Hickey's statement that he will also be representing the regulatory authorities against whom allegations have been made. There seems to be a conflict of interest.
This does not arise on the Order of Business.
Will the Taoiseach look at that matter? Perhaps he, or whoever holds that position next Tuesday, would let us know the position.
A serious difficulty arising from the problems within the Government is the question of the rate support grant for local authorities. Under law enacted by this House next Friday is the final date by which local authorities must fix their rates but they cannot do so until they have an intimation from the Government as to the budgetary provision for next year. Promises were made to the local authorities that they would be given this information last week and the week before. Will the promise be met in the next 24 to 48 hours?
The normal procedures will be followed.
I know the Taoiseach is preoccupied but local government is grinding to a halt because——
The Deputy has made that point. I have facilitated the Deputy in eliciting the information.
I would remind the Taoiseach that the statutory meetings must be called by next Friday and the Government must give an intimation long before that date. Normal procedures are not being followed in this case. There is a crisis.