It is proposed to take business on the Order Paper from Nos. 1 to 3.
Order of Business.
The Leader of the House has indicated that items Nos. 1 to 3 will be taken today. It would, therefore, appear as if the time of the House will not be exhausted. The remaining time could be used to take motions which are on the Order Paper since the 6th November last— motions Nos. 4 and 6. Much time has expired since these motions were tabled and there appears to be no business in which the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries is involved in the other House. I should like to move an amendment to the Order of Business. I move that Nos. 4 and 6 be added to the Order of Business.
An amendment is proposed that Nos. 4 and 6 on the Order Paper be added to the Order of Business.
I should like to second this amendment. It is important that the Seanad be treated as a responsible body by the Minister. I feel strongly that if we have the time available today, as we had indeed last week, we should use it to clear the Order Paper of some motions, in particular those dealing with agriculture which have been there, as Senator D.J. O'Sullivan has said, since November 6th. I regret that the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries should appear to be treating the Seanad with unconcern.
I should like to inquire from the Leader of the House when the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries will be available to deal with motion No. 6. I should also like to make it clear that I want a debate on this matter, not for the purpose of making the present difficult position worse but in order to try to be helpful.
The Senator is referring to motion No. 6.
Yes, motion No. 6.
Does the Leader of the House wish to comment?
It is not proposed to take these motions today and I must, therefore, oppose the amendment. The position with regard to these motions is that the Taoiseach made it quite clear in the Dáil yesterday what the situation is and there has been no change in that position.
I should like to support this amendment very strongly.
Does the Senator wish to ask a question? The matter has been disposed of through the Leader of the House replying.
May I ask a question? Is it a rule that when the Leader of the House speaks no one else can speak?
That is the position.
May I ask a further question?
The Senator may.
Supposing the Seanad, as I hope it will, agrees with this amendment will the Minister be available?
No, the Minister will not be available.
Surely it is reasonable for the House to discuss these important motions even in the absence of the Minister because they relate to a matter of grave national importance.
The matter is agreed.
Question put: "That the amendment be agreed, namely, that motions Nos. 4 and 6 be added to the Order of Business".
The Seanad divided: Tá, 17; Níl, 23.
Tá
- Carton, Victor.
- Cole, John C.
- Conlan, John F.
- Crowley, Patrick.
- Dooge, James C.I.
- FitzGerald, Garret M.D.
- FitzGreald, John.
- McDonald, Charles.
- McHugh, Vincent.
- Malone, Patrick.
- Mannion, John.
- Murphy, Dominick F.
- Ó Conalláin, Dónall.
- O'Sullivan, Denis J.
- Prendergast, Micheál A.
- Sheehy Skeffington, Owen L.
- Stanford, William B.
Níl
- Ahern, Liam.
- Boland, Gerald.
- Browne, Seán.
- Connolly O'Brien, Nora.
- Eachthéirn, Cáit Uí.
- Egan, Kieran P.
- Farrell, Joseph.
- Fitzsimons, Patrick.
- Flanagan, Thomas P.
- Honan, Dermot P.
- McGlinchey, Bernard.
- Martin, James J.
- Nash, John Joseph.
- Ó Donnabháin, Seán.
- O'Kennedy, Michael.
- Ó Maoláin, Tomás.
- O'Reilly, Patrick (Longford).
- Ryan, Eoin.
- Ryan, James.
- Ryan, Patrick W.
- Ryan, William.
- Sheldon, William A.W.
- Teehan, Patrick J.
Tellers: Tá: Senators Conlon and McDonald; Nil: Senators Browne and Farrell.
Amendment declared lost.
Could the Leader of the House give us any indication, as was done by the acting Leader some three weeks ago, as to when the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries is likely to be available to this House?
I have not even discussed it with him.
It is high time the Senator did.
After six months.
The order of business has been agreed by the House and we move on item No. 1, the Local Government (Dublin) Bill, 1967, committee Stage.