I do not know whether this debate is going to continue over to-morrow or whether Deputies would consider it an advantage to finish it to-night. If it is not finished at 9.30 could we get agreement to continue the debate until midnight?
Motion to Sit Late.
Mr. Cosgrave
I am perfectly agreeable.
We have bad no order on the matter up to the present.
How are we going to get home?
If the debate is to continue beyond the usual hour for adjournment, 9.30, is it not necessary to suspend Standing Orders before a certain time?
A motion would be in order now.
Will we conclude the debate to-night or sit to-morrow?
I understand that it is necessary to conclude to-night or sit to-morrow.
I would suggest that the Whips might have the usual conversation on the matter.
Unfortunately time is pressing now. I move that the Dáil sit later than 11 p.m. to-night and that the Order for Adjournment be taken not later than midnight.
Under Standing Orders that motion should have been moved before 6.30.
It may be moved up to 8.30 p.m., and it is being so moved now.
Minister have motor cars to take them home; we have not.
Is it not correct that when the Dáil meets at 3 o'clock Standing Orders must be suspended not later than 6.30 in order to keep the House in session to a later hour than 9.30?
The motion may be made at or before 8.30 p.m.
Has notice not to be given before 8.30?
Not necessarily; the Chair has discretion on the matter of notice.
We do not want to obstruct the discussion, or to interfere with the rights particularly of country members, but it would be far better if we had from the Taoiseach before this discussion comes to an end the names of the Departments over which his Ministers are going to preside. Through not having that information, we are at a disadvantage in this discussion.
That point has been raised already.
I have indicated that, as far as it is possible to do so at the present moment.
If the Taoiseach himself does not get up and take part in this discussion——
The Taoiseach may only intervene to conclude.
——could he not put up some of his Ministers to indicate to the House——
There are no Ministers until the nominations are approved.
They are all in the dock at the moment.
You will hear from us on other occasions.
I have tried to make it as clear as I possibly could that, in the main, the Ministers named there will retain the positions that they had. I pointed out that, in the case of the Department of Lands, the Minister for Education had for some time back held that office too, and that I now propose to put a Minister definitely in charge of the Department of Lands. There is good reason why I think that should be done. There may be some adjustments on that account, but, except for those adjustments, which I am not in a position at the moment to make, the persons who have been mentioned there as members of the Ministry will hold the offices which they held before dissolution.
What Department is to be placed in the charge of Deputy Seán Moylan?
I have told the Deputy that that is one of the adjustments which I will have to make as a result of taking the Department of Lands away from the Minister for Education. I cannot say definitely at the moment.
And the Taoiseach cannot say definitely whether the Minister for Co-ordination of Defensive Measures is to get any additional work?
I said that Deputy Seán Moylan who, as Parliamentary Secretary, had charge of certain defence measures such as A.R.P. and so on, will be relieved of that work, and it is possible that I will ask the Minister for Co-ordination of Defensive Measures to take it on.
Motion put and agreed to.