It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: 1, 2, 3, 4 (30, 68, 31), Public Business not to be interrupted for the taking of Private Members' business.
Order of Business.
Is it proposed to sit on Friday.
That will depend on the progress made with the Estimates. It is necessary that the discussion of the Estimates be completed fairly soon so that the Appropriation Bill may be passed through the Dáil and Seanad before the end of November. The discussion of the remaining Estimates must, accordingly, be completed early in November.
Are we to understand that if these Estimates are not finished, the House will probably sit on Fridays?
It is possible, if the progress made this week is not rapid. The Seanad is entitled to three weeks in which to discuss the appropriation Bill, which must be law before the end of November. That will enable Deputies to understand the date by which all stages of the Estimates' discussions must be finished.
If Private Members' time is to be taken in order to facilitate the discussion of the Estimates, can we have an assurance from the Government that when the Estimates are disposed of, and the Appropriation Bill passed, adequate time, if necessary Government time, will be made available for the discussion of approximately 13 Private Members' motions which appear on the Order Paper?
The Government has no desire to take Private Members' time except when the pressure of public business requires it. I am quite sure, if the Party Whips meet on that matter, that accommodation can be arrived at that will meet the reasonable requirements of Deputies.