It is proposed to take business as on the Order Paper: Items Nos. 5, 4—Votes 62, 52, 53 and 54. If that business is concluded, it is proposed to take items Nos. 6 and 7.
Order of Business.
We had a ruling comparatively recently with regard to the use of the word "lie" in the House and I should like to ask what is the position with regard to a Deputy's service in the House who makes use of the word "lie" contrary to the Standing Orders and then just clears out.
The Deputy's services are dispensed with for this day. He may not come back.
Might I renew a submission made here by the Leader of the Opposition on a previous occasion that some attempt should be made to give Deputies an approximate idea of what the programme of business for the day is? We were discussing Estimates for the past two days and, as I understood, were to continue consideration of Estimates. Then suddenly into the middle of a body of Estimates is shot the Sinn Féin Funds Bill, without, so far as I know, notice to anybody. I could not find out late last night what the business proposed for to-day was.
Was the Deputy not notified in the House yesterday?
I could not find out yesterday evening by inquiry in the House what was to be taken to-day.
The House was informed on Tuesday that the Bill would be taken to-day and, when practicable, the intentions of the Government with regard to public business are communicated to the Leaders of the Parties.
That is perfectly adequate and satisfactory and, if I am mistaken, I offer the Government my apologies. I shall check up on the source to which I refer, which was the appropriate one, and if the fault is mine, I shall be very glad to own to it, and, if the fault is elsewhere, there was possibly some explanation for it.
Is it proposed to sit to-morrow?
I think so.