It is now 5 o'clock and I should like to know whether it is proposed to continue with the questions.
Order of Business.
I propose that questions be resumed about 7 o'clock.
I intimated earlier that I had no objection to going on until the questions were finished, but I understood that it was the general wish of Deputies opposite that we should cease at 5 o'clock.
I suggest that the remainder of the questions be left over until the next sitting day.
In that case, it might be no harm to draw the attention of Deputies to the fact that, under Standing Orders, they are entitled to get, and in effect must get unless they give notice to the contrary, a written reply to their questions. It occurs to me that a number of Deputies might wish to wait until next week to get a reply, particularly in view of the prospect that next week we will again have a surplus of questions on the Order Paper, so that Deputies who are anxious to get replies to their questions can get them in writing through the Dáil Office if they so desire.
Will the Tánaiste indicate whether we are sitting next week?
We are.
On what day?
Wednesday.
Will we sit for more than one day next week?
If the business on the Order Paper for Wednesday is finished, no, but I am not so optimistic.
I take it that it is not the intention at present to sit on Tuesday?
No.
It is understood that any Deputy who wishes a written answer to his question can get that answer.
If written answers are given, the question arises whether Deputies will be allowed to repeat certain questions.
I think, according to the Standing Orders, Deputies will get the replies in writing unless they notify the Office that they wish to have the questions put down again next week.
Surely the House can rule that the questions be postponed until next week?
I do not think so. Of course a number of Deputies may prefer to get a reply now rather than wait until next week.
In that case, they will get the reply in writing unless they intimate to the Dáil Office that they want the question to appear on the Order Paper next week?
Yes.
And the reply will be published in the Official Report?
Yes, of course. It is proposed to take the business to-day in the following order: Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14. Private Deputies' business will be taken at 9 p.m., or earlier if public business is completed, and we shall commence with motion No. 1 on list No. 2.
A motion has been put down by me to reject the report of the Central Bank presented by the Minister for Finance to the House. The motion raises matters of grave constitutional importance. But, apart from that, I am moving the rejection of the report on a number of grounds which are of immediate importance.
What is the point?
The point is that I am asking the Government to make time available for a discussion of the motion as soon as possible. I do not see any reason why they should not do so. The Government is no doubt aware——
I do not think the Deputy is entitled to make a speech about his reasons.
I am not making a speech.
It sounds very like one.
I am entitled to state the reasons why I am asking the Government to give time.
The Deputy is not entitled to make a speech.
Surely on the Order of Business he is.
If he wants to get consideration for his request he will not follow the line he is on.
I do not want to make a speech. I want to state why I am asking the Government to make time available. That will only take two minutes. The House is no doubt aware that as a result of the policy advocated in the report——
I submit that there is no business before the House.
There is no business before the House. The Deputy may make an application to the Government for time.
There is the motion for the Order of Business.
There is no motion for the Order of Business. It is fixed by the Government.
It has to be accepted by the House.
It does not matter. Read the Standing Orders again.
The report has been presented to this House. May I make a submission to the Chair and be listened to?
I submit that the Deputy is not entitled to make a submission.
May I make a submission and be heard?
The Deputy is entitled to ask the Government for time, but he is not entitled to elaborate on the subject matter of the motion.
I bow to the ruling of the Chair. I am raising a matter on a point of order to the Chair. A report has been laid on the Table of the House by the Minister for Finance, and I respectfully ask the Chair to ask the Government to provide facilities for the discussion of that report.
It is not proposed to allocate Government time for the discussion of the report. Time will be available in the ordinary course in the period allocated for Private Deputies' business.
Mr. O'Higgins
Does the report represent Government policy?
No.
It is merely a report on the proceedings of the previous Government by a board appointed by the previous Government. It has nothing to do with us.
Mr. O'Higgins
Will the Minister stand by that statement?