It is proposed to take items Nos. 1,2 and 3.
Order of Business.
Could the Leader of the House tell us when Private Members' Business is to be taken? There are two motions at the head of the Private Members' Business list on the change of the school entry age. I feel it might be appropriate to take them quite soon because this is a matter of public importance in controversy at the moment. The Seanad has now been sitting for nearly four weeks, so it should come into Private Members' time fairly soon.
Does the Leader of the House envisage this House debating the issue of poverty in the light of the major statements made by the Taoiseach on a number of occasions in the past, in the light of the recent conference and in the light of the absence of the major Opposition party from that conference on poverty? I feel it is a matter which this House, since we do not appear to have a great deal of business, could usefully discuss in the immediate future in order to publicise further the problem, which is one of the Taoiseach's objectives.
On the question raised by Senator McGuinness, as the Senator knows item No 1 deals with reverting to the procedures concerning the Private Members' motions which operated in the last session. I hope this motion will be passed today. I expect the Whips will get together very quickly and will arrange for the first Private Member's motion to come before this House as soon as possible.
On the second question raised by Senator Brendan Ryan, obviously it is an extremely important area and he rightly points out that the Taoiseach made a major statement on the question of poverty last weekend. I consider it is obviously a subject with which both Houses should concern themselves and I would hope that, perhaps through the machinery of a Private Member's motion, or perhaps a Government motion, we may indeed discuss that issue very soon which I agree with him is a matter of great urgency.
Order of Business agreed to.