It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in that order. It is proposed to suspend the sitting of the House for lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. It is proposed that if no new business is started after 3 o'clock that we should proceed to the Adjournment which would normally be at 4 o'clock. If these motions are continuing at the time, we will continue up to 4 p.m.
Order of Business.
I am not objecting to the Order of Business. I discussed it with Senator Ferris last night. He came to me to say that there was a change in the Order of Business and I had not much choice but to agree.
I want to protest, not about any Member of this House, but about the attitude of Ministers. For instance, the Order of Business for the week is decided on the previous Thursday evening and I get that from the Leader of the House. On several occasions we have been told at the last minute that a Minister cannot come in. Item No. 7 on the Order Paper was supposed to be the first item on the agenda today. Item No. 7 is a very important matter so far as agriculture is concerned and we were told last night the Minister would not be available. I do not think that is good enough.
It puts me in a very awkward position today. At 10 o'clock last night I had to start running around to try to find someone who would handle item No. 1 today. Since none of the Fianna Fáil Senators expected it would be taken first this morning they were not prepared for it. As I said, I had to agree to the Order of Business because if I had not we probably would not have had any business at all for today and we might have been finished in a short time. I should like if the leader on the Government side of the House would convey the message to Ministers, that when they agree to come here to speak that they should come that day and not upset us. It is most unfair.
So far as Item No. 1, is concerned, it is not always the practice for the Minister to speak first on a motion but I should like if the Minister would speak first on this motion today in order to give our people an opportunity of finding out what it is all about. Senator Ferris mentioned the Minister is taken up in the other House with the Order of Business or something like that. I can understand that and I am quite prepared to wait for the Minister to come in to lead off on item No. 1.
I totally support what Senator Ryan said, that item No. 7 should have been item No. 1 on the Order Paper today because of its importance. I want to ask the Leader of the House if Item No. 3 is to be completed today or will it be taken again next week? I asked Senator Dooge about this some time ago as it was moved down the Order Paper. It has certain important implications for the Irish insurance industry. Now, without warning, it has gone up to No. 3 today.
I understand the points made by Senator Ryan and Senator Honan. With regard to the proposition that the Minister should speak first in relation to this, I imagine there are people who will be contributing to the debate on this item and that might result in an unsatisfactory state of affairs. Certainly so far I am concerned, I have queries to raise in relation to this report. I have queries to raise in relation to how it is being handled, how the conclusions which have been arrived at by the committee are going to be dealt with and a number of other aspects. Unless there is an opportunity to raise these questions before the Minister speaks, what mechanism is there to get a response from the Minister and the Government in relation to the queries some of us will be raising?
With regard to the comments of Senator Ryan, I have to agree with everything he said. I think he will agree though that the Leader, whether it is myself or Senator Dooge, has always tried to facilitate everybody, whether it is a Minister or indeed the Opposition in the House. We try to do so by discussion, agreement and consultation. In this case, I was faced with a dilemma which was outside the Minister's control in that something urgent came up. I requested the permission of Senator Ryan to order the business to suit the Minister. If the Minister had a choice he would have been here to take the item on the milk cessation scheme. Representations were also made to me by other Members of the House that they had urgent matters to attend to this morning and they would like to be here for the debate. It suited them. I thought that, in all the circumstances, we had reached a compromise. When this happens it creates problems for me because I have to find the next Minister available. On this occasion it is the Tánaiste who already had a commitment for the Order of Business in the other House.
With regard to Senator Honan's comments, Item No. 3 is not ordered without warning. I suggested to Senator Ryan that we should put it in, in case the business allocated for today's sitting was completed before the appointed time. It is safer to have a third report ordered in this way. We may not reach it and I would like to assure Senators that we are most unlikely to complete it.
With regard to the Minister speaking first — and this point was referred to by Senator Howard also — the Minister cannot speak first. The motion has to be moved, so I will be speaking on it first.
It is then a matter for the House but a Minister can intervene in a debate at any time in the House. That is a Standing Order. It is normal procedure. If Members have a problem and want to make a comment on it, this is a report from an Oireachtas joint committee and I am sure the House wants to facilitate all the members of that committee or any other Members who wish to speak. It is appropriate also that the Minister should give his considered response to the debate on the report, which I am sure he will do. Facilities will be available at the end of the debate for people to have questions clarified and a response can be given if the House so orders. That is the normal formula to be followed on any motion taking note of a report.
When the motion is moved normally the Minister speaks. He also has the right to conclude, so I think that will meet Senator Howard's point and everybody else's point.
Order of Business agreed to.