It is intended that we will take Items Nos. 2 and 3 today, that we take Item No. 2 until 6 p.m. and that we take Item No. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8.15 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the Order of Business agreed?
The Order of Business is not agreed. Until five minutes ago it was my understanding that we were taking Items Nos. 1, 2 and 3 today. My group wholeheartedly support Item No. 1. Suddenly, without any indication or notice, it has been withdrawn from the Order Paper today. The reasons we have heard outside is that this has been withdrawn because the Government Whip in the other House does not want to have the proceedings of this House televised in two weeks' time.
You have made your point. You cannot go into the reasons——
I simply ask that the Leader of the House would do us the courtesy of telling us why the business which was ordered for today has, without notice, been withdrawn.
Everytime there is a difficulty in this House the question arises why was there not agreement among the Whips and why was this matter not sorted out beforehand. We have a clear understanding on the Order of Business of the House that there is certain notice given on certain days in advance. It is the clear understanding of this group also that until an hour ago Items Nos. 1, 2, 3 were being taken on the Order of Business. Without the courtesy of a reason or an explanation as to why it should happen, the Leader of the House cursorily dismissed Item No. 1. I would like an explanation, a Chathaoirleach, from the Leader of the House and indeed also an explanation as to what it is we have been wasting our time on in the Committee on Procedures and Privileges for the last two years where almost every other agenda for the CPP contains an item regarding the televising of Oireachtas proceedings.
Your point is made, Senator.
My point is far from being made and I certainly think ——
You cannot debate it. Your point is made.
On a point of order, since when is it out of order to debate the Order of Business?
You cannot develop a debate on the Order of Business.
I am not discussing the rights or the wrongs of the televising of the House. I am discussing the narrow point of the placing of it on the Order of Business for today. It was my clear understanding, and I think the Members of this House are entitled to know, that at the last meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges it was decided to place this motion before the House for decision. It was decided to place this motion before the House today for many reasons, including that of allowing RTE to have coverage of the proceedings in the copy of the RTE Guide which was to be published next week. The Members of the House are entitled to know the reasons why it was ordered originally for today. With due respect, a Chathaoirligh, I do believe I am not discussing the rights or the wrongs of it. I think the Members of the House have an entitlement to know——
Now they know.
There is more to it than that, a Chathaoirligh. It is a fact, we would have to ask the Leader of the House, that because we have been accused, if you do not mind, by the Whip of the other House of slowing down the televising of the Business of the Oireachtas, he would not allow our committee to ——
You are out of order. You have made your point. Let the Leader of the House answer you.
I have three more points to make on the same issue. I certainly feel that in all justice, in view of the amount of time that has been given to this item by the CPP in two years of discussion and in deference to the people who are going to do this job, I am entitled to make the point.
I am asking you, Senator O'Toole, to resume your seat.
I would ask you a Chathaoirligh, is the Leader of the House being made a puppet of?
I have asked you to resume your seat. I cannot account for the Whip of the Government or the other House. You are out of order.
I wish to challenge your ruling if that is the case.