I should like to ask the Minister or the Taoiseach whether it is proposed to summon the Dáil next week to consider Motion No. 7. The Taoiseach, I am sure, is aware that the principal problem confronting this country is how to get bread, and in order to get bread the wheat crop must be put in immediately. On Motion No. 7 we propose to put before the Dáil the ways and means of getting a sufficient crop, backed up by an undertaking from the farmers of the country. I should like to know from the Taoiseach if he will convene the Dáil next week to consider that motion, as it is now getting late for the sowing of wheat. Some propagandists are saying that we have time enough for six weeks yet to sow winter wheat. Well, of course you can sow winter wheat in May, but you will reap not. I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he proposes summoning the Dáil next week.
Order of Business.
It is not proposed to summon the Dáil to meet on Wednesday next.
When is it going to be summoned?
The date fixed before the adjournment at Christmas was 5th February.
That is another fortnight later?
Yes.
Does the Government not recognise that that is a golden fortnight, and that, if steps are not taken within that fortnight, the responsibility will be the Government's if we run short of bread or if we have black bread? I appeal to the Taoiseach to reconsider that decision. The whole country is anxious that the Dáil should meet and whatever effort is to be made in the matter of wheat production, we should make it at once. I wish to protest against what I understand to be the order of the Government to confine the debate on motion No. 1 to three hours.
The Deputy must be aware of the fact that there is a standing order to that effect?
Yes, I am.
And unless by the unanimous consent of the House, or on a motion submitted in due time, a standing order may not be suspended.
Everybody will admit, I am sure, that this is an unprecedented occasion. We are up against something that not only the Dáil but the country has never been up against before. In order to have a debate on this important subject, and recognising the delays that might ensue, we put down motion No. 6 on the Order Paper. As that motion stands on the Order Paper, neither the proposer nor the seconder supports it, but it was the only way to get at a discussion on the tillage order. We put down a similar motion on another occasion; it was discussed in December last, and there was a similar motion in the previous year. We will withdraw that motion if we get the concession of unlimited time. Unlimited time might not mean five minutes longer than the period of three hours; it might not even mean the three hours; but there is a principle involved and I appeal to the Taoiseach to grant unlimited time.
Perhaps the Tánaiste can inform us, if the Dáil is not meeting until 5th February, whether we may expect to hear from the Minister for Agriculture to-day? Is it intended that he will take part in the debate? We did not see him yesterday.
He was here most of the day yesterday.
Will the Minister for Agriculture be here to-day?
Wait and see.
Let the country listen to that answer; let the country wait and see.
Is the Deputy endeavouring to make a series of speeches on divers matters under the guise of asking questions?
"Wait and see" is scarcely a proper answer from one of the heads of the Government.