It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3 with a lunch break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I think it is a pity that on the debate on the Adjournment today we will have only half an hour to discuss the closure of hospitals which was announced. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the Government Whips would not agree to allow a full debate on this matter I must express disappointment with the Whip on the other side of the House that we could not arrange a full debate for today.
I want to clarify something for Senator Lanigan. Last night I met with Senator Willie Ryan and the view of our group was that we were as anxious as the other groups were to have such a debate, but we felt it would be futile to have such a debate unless the Minister was present for the debate. Unfortunately, it was not possible at such short notice to ensure that he would be here. In those circumstances we were reluctantly compelled to forego having a debate today. We did agree that, if the Opposition wished to put down the motion, we would do as much as we could to see that it was debated at an early date.
Is the Order of Business agreed?
I accept what the Whip of the Government party has said. I suggest that the Minister was not terribly slow in announcing the closure of the hospitals and I cannot see why he could not come in here at short notice.
Would the Government side be prepared to allow a debate on the closure of the College of Education in Carysfort, which was announced the day before yesterday by the Minister. I believe that this announcement was a calculated insult to the generations of teachers who have graduated from Carysfort College. The fact that it was announced in the week in which the Government were bringing a motion before the other House to alter an arbitration award to the teaching profession added to that insult. I ask that the Government would allow time next week to debate the closure of Carysfort College.
Is the Order of Business agreed? Senator McDonald to conclude the Order of Business.
The Government side of the House would prefer if for all those problems, either contentious or otherwise, the Opposition would use the normal procedures, put down a motion and we would try to provide time.
On a point of information, I understood yesterday that the Cathaoirleach was going to be lenient with Senators this morning when we were discussing this. There was going to be no time barrier. Surely some member of the Government could come in to listen to Senators airing their problems about the serious matters that are before us at the moment.
There is no motion before us, but the Senator can rest assured——
It is not a motion, it is a crisis situation.
I have no means under Standing Orders to deal with crisis situations apart from the one I explained yesterday.
A Senator
If motions were put down would the Government allow a discussion or would they vote them out of the Order Paper as they did yesterday?
Order of Business agreed to.