It would not be possible, I think, to take any one of the four votes next on the Order Paper just now. Vote 54 is one that perhaps would be subject to the least criticism, but as the hour is so much advanced it might be for the convenience of the Committee if we were to report progress. I would be quite willing to go on if necessary.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. - ORDER OF BUSINESS.
My proposal was to make a general statement covering the four votes—50 to 54 —and to have a detailed discussion on matters as they came up afterwards if Deputies desired. That would be impossible before the adjournment this evening; in fact, I do not think I could finish my statement before the hour of adjournment. If it was proposed to take the votes separately, No. 51 would raise pretty well anything that can be raised on a vote for my Ministry. Vote 52 deals with matters that, in the absence of the Donegal Deputies, I would not like to go on with because they have points to raise as to a subvention to the Donegal railways. Vote 53 will really give rise to a debate on the whole railway situation, and it is one of the big matters that I intended to deal with in my opening statement. I do not think it could be very well segregated and taken out from the others. Vote 54 is a small vote that might be taken by itself, and if we took it now by itself, we would find more time given to it than it would occupy in the general debate. I think there is nothing to be gained by going on with these estimates to-day.
I support that suggestion of the Minister. We look upon the statement of the Minister as of very considerable importance on these votes, and I think it would be very much more suitable that they should be taken earlier in the day and with the knowledge they were coming on so that Deputies might have notice of the importance of the votes.
The question is that we report progress and resume the consideration of the Estimates again in Committee on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, after the other business.
Question put and agreed to.