Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 1974

Vol. 77 No. 3

Business of Seanad.

An Cathaoirleach

I have considered the application from Senators Killilea, Keegan and Dolan to raise on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House tonight the following matter:

The efforts being made by the manufacturers and agents of fertilisers to evade the price control mechanism by withholding from farmers who have paid deposits supplies of fertilisers in order to gain an unfair advantage from anticipated price increases.

I consider the matter is in itself suitable for bringing forward under Standing Order No. 25. However, notice was not received until long after 3 p.m. yesterday, the latest time prescribed in the Standing Order. Having considered all aspects of the matter, I have decided that I should follow precedents and should not in this case exercise my discretion to accept the application on short notice. The Senators may, of course, bring the matter forward again in respect of the next sitting day. If they wish to do so they should give notice before 3 p.m. on the preceeding day.

Mr. Killilea

I accept the ruling of the Chair. In any case there would not be much point in our trying to talk on this motion this evening because of the Minister being absent from Dublin. I should also like to point out that the matter is one of great urgency and that instead of the Minister gallavanting around the country he should stay here and talk about this subject.

Senator Keegan rose.

An Cathaoirleach

I trust that the Senator does not intend following on the same line as that taken by Senator Killilea.

Mr. Keegan

Not entirely. As the original proposer of the motion I had hoped the Seanad would have had an opportunity of discussing the matter which, to thousands of members of the farming community, is an urgent and serious problem. The fact that the spring is so well advanced and that they are unable to gain supplies of fertilisers——

An Cathaoirleach

But apparently it was not apparent to them at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Mr. Killilea

We were late by about 25 minutes only.

Mr. Keegan

I want to tell the Cathaoirleach that, if the situation does not improve between now and next Wednesday, I will raise it again then.

An Cathaoirleach

I have indicated to the Senators the manner in which they may raise it.