It is proposed to take the business of the House in the following order: Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with the Money Resolution in its appropriate place. Private Deputies' Business will be taken at 9 o'clock, or earlier if the Government is in a position to do so.
Order of Business.
I will raise the matter on the Order of Business when you are ready. I want to point out that, on the Order of Business on the 28th October, I filed in the General Office of the House a motion relating to the continuing imprisonment of Archbishop Stepinac, Primate of Yugo-Slavia. I asked the Government for time to debate that matter and I was told that they had not time in which to consider the matter although a week had then elapsed. I then asked your permission, Sir, to raise it as a matter of urgent public importance. You declared that it was not, and did not come within the Standing Order which made provision for such matters but that if I saw the Chief Whip something might be done. I saw the Chief Government Whip. He told me that he could not give me any information as to what decision might be come to in the matter on that particular day. I rang him up the following morning and he told me that there would be no time that week——
Would the Deputy state what he wants at the moment? He detailed all that matter on a prior occasion.
Yes, sir. I think the House is entitled to know. I raised a matter which I considered one of extreme urgency——
If the Deputy wants time he can say so, but he may not make a speech on the matter now.
I want time, Sir, but I want to give my reason as to why I asked for the time. I have been handed off by the Government in the last fortnight by a series of messages designed to inform me that I will get time, and then told that I will not get time. If the Government does not wish to debate the motion why does it not say so?
The Deputy is making a speech and he is not entitled to do that. The Deputy is not entitled, in asking for time for a motion, to make a speech on the motion.
Is he entitled to communicate to the House the fact that having acceded to your suggestion to approach the Chief Whip he has been given what is properly called "the round about"? I do not intend to take that in silence. Does the Government intend to give me time to discuss this motion and, if so, when?
The Tánaiste has said this week or next week.
The Taoiseach informed the Deputy that time would be given next week.
Can the Minister say when?
I have just told the Deputy next week.
Can the Tánaiste say now on what day next week?
No.
That is the kind of impudence we are asked to tolerate.
It depends on the other business that has to be done.
If the Tánaiste intends to give time it is perfectly easy to give it.
With your permission, I want to ask the Minister for Agriculture a question in relation to the Compulsory Tillage Order. The Order has been published and I do not want to put down a motion, but I would like the Minister to give the House an opportunity of discussing the Order because I believe it requires modification.
That is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle. I think myself that the only way in which we can deal with it is for the Deputy to put down a motion.
An amending motion.
I would prefer if the Minister would give an opportunity of discussing the Order without a motion of that sort.
There must be something before the House.
I wonder would the Minister undertake to consult the various Party Leaders in conference with a view to seeing whether he cannot be persuaded that certain modifications are necessary in the Order for the coming year.
I am quite prepared to meet any Deputy or the members of any Party who want to meet me.