It is proposed to take Item No. 1 on the Order Paper—the Education Estimates, followed by the Estimates of the Department of Industry and Commerce and, if they are finished to-day, the Estimates of the Local Government Department.
Business of the Dáil.
Is it intended to sit to-morrow?
Yes.
Is it proposed to sit next week?
Yes, on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Does the Tánaiste not think that is a great hardship, considering that we do not usually sit on a week in which a Church holiday occurs, and that it is a great hardship to bring Deputies up from the country for a two days' sitting?
The Deputy is not long enough a member of the Dáil to know what is the common practice.
I hope I shall be.
The Deputy can learn from experience.
That is what has taught you something.
I should like to know when I shall get an opportunity of raising on the adjournment the unfavourable reply which I received to No. 1 Question yesterday. The matter was left over because of the fact that the Taoiseach was not available yesterday. I agreed to leave it over until the Taoiseach would be available.
I think the Taoiseach is absent to-day also.
He is at another convention.
He is at a funeral.
Would the Minister for Local Government not deputise?
You may remember, Sir, that yesterday I put down a motion dealing with a certain matter. I wonder have the Government considered it or have they decided to give Government time to have that matter discussed?
When will the Finance Bill be circulated?
The Finance Bill will be circulated next week.
Will it be taken next week?
I do not know.
It will not be taken next week?
No, the following week.
May we take it that the arrangement to take the Public Health Bill, Report Stage, next week still stands?
The Public Health Bill will not be taken before next week.
Mr. Morrissey
That is not what I asked. Apparently there are Deputies and Minister who have been a longer time in the House than Deputy Donnellan who have yet something to learn. I asked does the arrangement to take the Report Stage of the Public Health Bill next week still stand?
If the business ordered for to-day is finished to-day, yes.
Mr. Morrissey
Again that is not an answer to my question.
Nobody can foretell what progress is going to be made between now and next week.
Mr. Morrissey
No, but we should be able to know whether an important Bill such as the Public Health Bill is to be taken next week. It is surely within the competence of the Government to arrange business in such a way——
It is not. The business which may be taken next week is such business ordered for this week as remains uncompleted, that is to say, any particular group of Estimates ordered for to-day, plus the Report Stage of the Tourist Bill and possibly the Public Health Bill. I cannot say for certain that it will be taken but that will depend on the progress that will be made to-day.
Mr. Morrissey
I am not talking about the business ordered for to-day. I am talking about the business ordered for next week.
The question I was asked was whether it would be taken next week, and I said that it would not be taken before next week.
Mr. Morrissey
The Minister said earlier that it would be taken.
My optimism as to the progress made proved to be unjustified.
As regards the motion appearing on the Order Paper, will the Government give Government time for a discussion on that motion?
The Government has not had an opportunity as yet of considering it.
When may I expect a reply on the matter? Is it when the Taoiseach comes back?
When the Government has had an opportunity of considering it. I can assure the Deputy he will get all the rope he wants.
When?
When it is considered convenient and suitable.
Judging by the time it took to get Deputy Dillon's motion regarding Deputy Briscoe considered, that may be nine months afterwards.
I would appeal to the Tánaiste to give an opportunity for this motion to be discussed as soon as possible, because I might give enough rope to the Government to hang themselves in the matter, since he puts it that way.
Our pious hope is that he will tangle himself up.
You tried that a long time ago, but you failed to get me to tangle myself up. When can I hope to get a reply?
Not before the Taoiseach returns.
Possibly next week. I cannot say definitely.
Try and clear yourself before the country as soon as you can. They are all talking about it. We must have it before the Cork election, anyhow.