When is it proposed to sit again?
Business of Seanad.
It is proposed to sit on Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. Before I adjourn the House, may I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture for having waited patiently here to take Nos. 5, 4 and 3, which had been arranged for a day. However, in view of the debate and the vote, he was unable to get in. I want it to be recorded that he was available and waiting and to thank him for his patience.
Are we to take it that next week items Nos 5, 4 and 3 will be first in priority or will we continue with the Social Welfare debate, which is now in abeyance because the Minister was not available to continue on with the debate last week? I think it is important that people should know whether we are going to take the debate on Social Welfare or are we going to go on to the agricultural debates next week?
That is a matter for arrangement and agreement between the Whips. The Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare will be available next Thursday and so will the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture. It is a matter for us to agree between ourselves which of the motions we are taking and in what order.
I suggest that next week we continue with the debate which has started rather than get into a debate on items Nos 5, 4 and 3, which are related but new subjects. Once we initiate a debate we should continue it through, so I suggest to the Deputy Leader that we continue next week with the Social Welfare debate. When that is finished, we can go on to the debate on the agricultural motions, items Nos 5, 4 and 3.
I have no objection to the course offered by Senator Lanigan and the Minister of State is available. I just want the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture to take note of our decision now to start off with Social Welfare so that he will not be waiting around again next Thursday. We will turn to his Department as soon as possible when we are finished with Social Welfare. I agree with Senator Lanigan.
The Deputy Leader has continually mentioned Ministers of State. Are we to take from his remarks that we are not going to have Ministers in this House from now on? What is wrong with this House that Ministers will not come in to debate subjects of major importance? The Deputy Leader has suggested on each occasion that Ministers of State will take the debates. Are we not going to have Ministers in this House. I am not running down Ministers of State but I think this House is being run down if you suggest that only Ministers of State will come in.
This is completely out of order. I will allow a quick word from Senator Lynch. Senator Ferris can reply to the comments made, by Senator Lanigan. It is completely out of order. There is nothing before the House.
Is there a possibility that the Air Transport Bill will be taken next Wednesday? It was generally agreed that the Air Transport Bill would be taken next Wednesday and I would like to ask what is the possibility of it being taken on Wednesday next.
Just to deal with Senator Lynch's point, there is a possibility, and I am hoping to take it as soon as we are finished with the National Development Corporation. However, I cannot predict how long that will take. If we are finished with that, we will certainly go straight to it. It will be ordered as No. 2.
Regarding Senator Lanigan's comments, it is my wish at all times to have Ministers, if possible, available; but Ministers of State are there to assist Ministers, who are not always available to take legislation. That does not take from the quality of the legislation or the quality of the contributions from either the Minister or Ministers of State. I made arrangements with a Minister of State to be available for the Social Welfare debate because I had presumed we would have got to him today. I discussed with the Senator this morning the probability that we would not. I had arranged with a Minister of State to be available next week. It is possible that it may be the Minister, but it is not within my power to decide whether it is a Minister or a Minister of State. That is a matter for the Government and the Whips Office. I will do everything possible to facilitate you. I will have the Taoiseach here for most of them if I can.