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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1968

Vol. 64 No. 14

Order of Business.

It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Since, in fact, the only substantial item ordered is item No. 3, I suggest to the Leader of the House that, perhaps, he might consider taking item No. 13, a motion in my name and that of Senator FitzGerald. Though the motion, strictly speaking, is not a matter of urgency within the meaning of Standing Orders, nevertheless, we have used the word "urgency" in the terms of the motion and we should be very glad to have the motion taken at the earliest possible time. It appears that the repossible Minister does not feel the matter is one which can be benefited by discussion at this time. However, those who put down the motion feel we ought to be given an opportunity to discuss this matter.

There are a number of motions on the Order Paper before that motion and I am afraid it will have to await its turn.

Could we hear from the Leader of the House how it is that motions we are not taking can prevent us taking a later one? I understand the Senator is not proposing that we should take any other motions and I do not understand how motions we do not propose to take can hold up one which the proposers are anxious we should take.

I propose to take the motions in order as soon as possible, as rapidly as possible.

Does that include the first motion on the Order Paper?

Are we taking any of them today?

That does not sound as early as possible.

Is it proposed to take any motions on the next sitting day?

I think we shall have plenty of business on the next sitting day.

We must protest. While this technically is not a matter of urgency within the terms used in the Standing Orders of the House, it is, in practical human terms, a matter of great urgency and I do not think those who have put down other motions—I have not consulted them— would wish to press those motions to take precedence over this one in view of the urgency in human terms of that which is involved. I would hope the Leader of the House would agree to provide time for this purpose, if not today then on the next sitting day.

Another Member of the House who put down a motion represented to me today that it was a matter of urgency too. So it is not merely a question of taking a motion out of order, it is a question that other Senators may have different ideas as to the relevant urgency of a particular thing.

I did not intervene because I hoped that the Leader of the House would indicate when motion No. 12 will be taken. I should like to move up as quickly as possible in the queue so as to get time for the discussion of this matter. I would support the idea that when time is available in the House a Minister should be roped in, if possible, to take motion No. 12.

I would propose taking motion No. 13 on the next sitting day.

The matter can be dealt with on the next sitting day.

When is the next sitting day?

That has not been fixed yet.

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