May I ask if time will be given for the purpose of discussing a motion in the name of Deputy Heskin and myself dealing with losses of live stock? This is a most urgent and important matter particularly as the Government have announced their intentions in the matter. It is a matter that should be dealt with by the House.
Losses of Live Stock.
It is not proposed to allot Government time for discussion of the motion.
May I submit that the announcement made last night by the Minister, that it is proposed to meet the situation covered by this motion in a partial way, makes it urgent that this House should have some opportunity for discussing the whole position? The proposals announced by the Government are not adequate to meet the disaster which has overtaken agriculture and Dáil Éireann should have an opportunity of discussing it.
The allotment of Government time for Private Deputies' Business is a very exceptional measure adopted occasionally at the request of Party Leaders.
I submit that this is a very exceptional circumstance.
The Deputy is not a Party Leader yet.
We do not have circumstances like these every year.
The Tánaiste is aware that this matter was raised here by Deputy Coogan and others in direct relation to the Kilkenny position and a rather unsatisfactory reply was given by the Government. Now, the Government have apparently made some examination of the situation and are taking steps that we all regard as somewhat inadequate to the matter. Surely it is desirable in the public interest, considering the losses that have been sustained and the difficulty under which a large number of farmers are labouring at present, that there should be a chance of airing the position again here and that at least we should have a statement from the Government as to what are the facts and what examination has been carried out by them which indicates that their present proposals are sufficient to deal with the situation.
An adequate statement of the Government's proposals could, I think, be secured in reply to a Parliamentary question. Opportunities for discussion of these proposals would have to be availed of as they arise. I think the debates on the Estimates will offer many opportunities.
Would the Tánaiste say if the Government would accept a Private Notice question to-morrow, so that at the earliest possible moment we would have an opportunity of knowing what was at the back of the Government's mind when they made their proposals?
I do not think there would be any difficulty in getting a reply to-morrow or Thursday—probably Thursday.