Before the Minister for Local Government leaves, I should like to raise a point in regard to the resumed discussion of Deputy Dockrell's motion relating to housing. I understand that only 35 minutes of the time allowed by the Standing Order is left and the Minister has not intervened in the debate. It is particularly desirable that the Minister should do so. When that 35 minutes is taken into consideration, there is very little time now between this and 9 o'clock, and as it would be desirable to hear the Minister and to have some sense of completeness about the debate on housing, I suggest that, as we are on Government time, we might continue the debate on the motion, so that it would end at 9 o'clock, instead of earlier.
Business of Dáil.
If the Opposition wants to have that facility, I am not unwilling to agree, but I must not be taken, if I do agree, as assenting to the proposition that up to this the speeches that have been made have had any relation to the motion on the Order Paper.
There is a motion on the Order Paper.
There is, but the speeches did not seem to relate particularly to it.
I speak particularly on behalf of the over of the motion and in view of the importance of the subject.
I do not mind.
Agreed.
Is it proposed to sit to-morrow?
I do not think so. Whatever the House wishes.
I understand that some Parties who have motions on the Order Paper are not particularly desirous of continuing tomorrow, and I understand that the business the Government would like to do is the Mental Treatment Bill.
If the House is ready to take it.
We have intimated that Friday morning is not a satisfactory time to begin the discussion of an important Bill such as that.
Very good.
I understand it is the general desire not to sit to-morrow.
May I point out that, as far as the question of sitting to-morrow is concerned, our Party has not been approached.
The Leader of the Party has been approached.
I happen to be Party Whip and I have not been approached. As there is a number of Private Members' motions on the Order Paper, I think it would be desirable to sit to-morrow in order to dispose of them.
I have already consulted the Leader of the Deputy's Party as to the advisability of sitting to-morrow, and it is his wish that we do not sit to-morrow. The Deputy would want to consult his Leader.
The Parliamentary Secretary consulted me a short time ago and I consented to the House not sitting to-morrow. Unfortunately, I have not had time to communicate with Deputy Cogan.
I take it as generally agreed that we do not sit to-morrow.