I wish to inform the House that the Whips were unable to meet me until about 20 minutes ago when we had a discussion on the proposals and motions to come before the House. By agreement with the Whips, we propose an adjournment for 45 minutes to see if we can conclude our business.
Suspension of Sitting.
It is proposed that the sitting be suspended for 45 minutes.
In view of the fundamental importance of the matters concerned it is important that the debate should proceed on an agreed footing and for that purpose my party is happy to agree to this proposal.
The House looks foolish. It is a week since we last met and the Government Chief Whip did not seek a meeting between the Whips until this afternoon. If that meeting had taken place earlier we could have resolved our difficulties. We are going to look very foolish in adjourning but in all the circumstances we do not seem to have an alternative. Deputies Spring and Dempsey rose.
Could we hear Deputy De Rossa? I will then call the Minister of State.
Obviously, there is little point in objecting to a further adjournment of 45 minutes. However, my party sought a meeting with the Government Chief Whip yesterday and we were available throughout today to discuss ordering today's business. When the Dáil resumes in 45 minutes we expect we will have business to conduct; otherwise we will have to take an extremely serious view of the matter.
I call Deputy Spring, whom I should have called earlier.
In all the circumstances the request by the Government Chief Whip is reasonable and we have no difficulty with it.
The Government is not in control of the House at the moment; the Opposition parties—
It is not in control of itself.
It is not in control of anything.
——have a majority. I made contact with the major Opposition party this morning to try to arrange a meeting as early as possible. There has been a number of activities, parliamentary party meetings and so on, during the day. I understood that the Progressive Democrats and Fine Gael Whips and, I think, Deputy Rabbitte of Democratic Left were in communication with one another and I was waiting for word as to when the meeting would take place.
There will be ample time for a discussion later. Is it agreed to suspend the sitting?
For your information, Sir, in agreeing to the proposal of the Government Chief Whip, the motion on the Order Paper in the name of the Fine Gael Party requires adjustment and amendment. In accordance with the rules of the House it is necessary to circulate an amended motion to all Members to enable the debate to take place on a proper footing. It is principally for that purpose that we require an adjournment of 40 minutes.
Sitting suspended at 4.10 p.m. and resumed at 5 p.m.