It is proposed to take No. 1 only.
Order of Business.
Again I want to bring to the notice of the Leader of the House my request of three weeks ago to have a debate on either Motion No. 22 or Motion No. 23. In either context it is important that we should have a discussion, but particularly on No. 22. We know, and the Government have admitted, that the nation is in a destitute economic situation generally. This House is entitled to at least the time of the Minister for Finance so that he might explain his proposals or, rather, his lack of proposals to deal with this situation. Because of his budget of last week he is known commonly now as the Minister for total abstinence.
The Senator is not entitled to make a budget speech on the Order of Business.
I am not making a budget speech but I am making a suggestion to the Leader of the House that, as a gesture of the sincerity of the politics of the Government to which he belongs, he asks the Minister for Finance to give us some of his time. It is a shame that we are dealing only with item No. 1 today when we could deal also with a motion. I am sure the Minister for Finance has not set off abroad yet on another borrowing mission. In the meantime, he could come in here and discuss matters of major importance.
In regard to amenity grants we had a situation where a local county council were told last week by the Department of Local Government that there was no money for local improvement schemes and amenity grants.
A million pounds.
Later last week, after efforts made in this House, the Minister decided that he must send the same amount as he sent last year. Taking into account a 43 per cent increase in the cost of living since last year, he knows how far that amount of money will go. Again, I request the Minister for Local Government to come into this House to an open debate and discuss the matter openly and honestly and not behind the doors of secrecy and behind the typewriting machines of people who from day to day change their minds.
I wish to support Senator Killilea in this because I happen to have my name to some of these motions and——
I hope the Senator is supporting the request and not the irrelevant remarks.
——particularly Motion No. 25, which deals with roads. I noticed during the last 12 months that along our county and main roads the most one can see is white-washed barrels instead of men working. It is too bad that work on highways like these is held up because our industrial output and so on depends a lot on our lines of communication. I just want to make the protest about it without saying anything else.
I should like also to ask the Leader of the House for a clear statement on the taking of motions in the House. He has stalled on this issue several times in recent months. It is time that this House knew in what way we are to be enabled to take motions. I should also like to ask him if the House is to sit tomorrow or any other day this week.
I do not know whether the representative of the Independents on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges has yet had an opportunity of reporting the position with regard to motions to Senator Robinson. I have not consciously been stalling on it. The fact of the matter is, as I mentioned last week, that very fruitful discussions have taken place at the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which will be meeting again this evening to consider the draft proposal which has been circulated. I do not want to mislead Senator Robinson or anyone else by suggesting that the fact that this is in draft for consideration necessarily means that it will recommend itself to the various groups in the House— that is a matter that has to be considered—but if it does it will ease very considerably the position regarding motions.
Regarding the other points made, I am not sure to what extent Senator Dolan was concluding the debate which was initiated by his colleague. If he was, I have nothing further to add.