There are two matters which before we enter on the private business might perhaps be settled. The President mentioned that he would take the view of the Dáil on the question of meeting in Whit week. Does the President propose anything himself?
FINANCE BILL. - DAIL RESUMED.
Progress reported.
No; I am leaving it entirely to the Dáil. Personally I would prefer the Dáil to meet.
I propose that we do meet.
I do not think that we could have a motion on it.
The question will really arise at the end of next week, but Deputies would like to know in advance.
The whole matter seems to me to depend on what the Minister considers to be necessary to bring before the Dáil, and whether he is ready to bring these things before us, and put before the Dáil the relative merits, as one Deputy said, of love and duty. If you have business ready we should attend to it, but, if not, we might enjoy ourselves.
Yes, we have business. We have the Estimates and plenty of other work. It was my intention that we should sit, as we will have business for several weeks, but several Deputies thought that we should have the week off. I thought that that was a reasonable request, and did not like to stand in the way.
In view of the fact that we had a list before us the other day regarding the extensive work of the Executive Council, and as we also have the Estimates, I think we should meet.
May I ask does Deputy Figgis refer to President Cosgrave's fourteen points?
Seeing that there is such a strenuous programme held up before us, I think we ought to have a holiday to recuperate before that.
We will have to defer decision until we see how our business stands next week.
Very good.
There is the other point of which I gave the President notice. Perhaps he would read the note.
I have received this note from the Ceann Comhairle: "I discussed with members of the Committee on Procedure to-day the order in which the Estimates should be taken next week. The opinion was that they should be opened at Number 4 and proceed in some order such as:—
No. 4. Exchequer and Audit.
5. Ministry of Finance.
6. Revenue Department.
7. Old Age Pensions.
13. Property Losses Advances.
14. Property Losses Compensation.
15. Personal Injuries Compensation.
16. Superannuation and Retired Allowances.
17. Rates on Government Property.
32. The Ministry of Home Affairs.
45. The Ministry of Agriculture.
51. Public Education.
52. Intermediate Education.
58. Army.
Having started thus, the other Estimates may be taken as agreed, later. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 should not be taken at an early stage."
The essence of the proposal of the Committee was that the first three Estimates, which deal with the Governor-General, the Oireachtas, and the Executive Council should not be taken first; that the first Estimates to be discussed should be the Estimates for the Ministry of Finance, and those for the Departments directly responsible to that Ministry, such as the President has read; and then to take Home Affairs and the other Ministries in order. If Deputies agree to that we could take them on Wednesday in that that order, after the Finance Bill. There is the other point. The Committee urged that unexpended balances, on each vote for last year, should be shown.
I cannot promise as to that, but I will make an enquiry, and if it is possible I will do it.
Would it impose any inconvenience if with the papers sent around to the Deputies a brief note were inserted saying that the estimates would be taken in a certain order?
That will be done.
An Leas Cheann Comhairle took the chair at this stage.