It is proposed to take business in the following order, Nos. 1, 5, 4—Vote 48—and 9. If not already reached, it is proposed to interrupt business at 8 p.m. to take No. 9.
Order of Business.
May I ask the Taoiseach whether there has yet been any decision as to what business will be ordered for tomorrow?
I should imagine it will be the same as today, continuation of the Social Welfare Estimate and the Land Bill.
Did the Taoiseach get a message from his Whips' Office that we have asked officially for time to discuss the Department of External Affairs publication, "The Facts About Ireland".
In my opinion, that is a matter much too trivial on which to waste the time of the Dáil.
This is a matter which, in our opinion, is of urgent public importance, particularly in view of the fact that we understand it is the intention of the Minister for External Affairs to give wide distribution to this publication. In view of our opinion on this matter, we should be glad if the Taoiseach would let us know whether the Government are prepared to provide time on Tuesday to discuss it.
If the Deputy wants a debate on the Civil War, I am against it.
We do not want a debate on the Civil War but on the suitability of the matter to which I have referred.
I shall consider it but I think it is a matter on which the time of the Dáil should not be wasted.
(Interruptions.)
Not wishing to show the Taoiseach any discourtesy, his views on the matter do not intimately concern me. I am putting the views of the Opposition Party and we think it is a matter of importance. We have put down a motion and we ask for time and we expect to get it on Tuesday.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy may expect a lot but he will not get a debate on the Civil War.
Nobody wants a debate on the Civil War. We want a debate on something which we have described as grossly unsatisfactory in character. We think we are entitled to have time to discuss it and we expect to get it.
The Deputy may expect what he likes. He will not get a debate on the Civil War from me and he can do what he likes about it.
I am now endeavouring to make Parliament work and nothing the Taoiseach can say to me——
I am not taking any directions from the Deputy on that.
Nothing the Taoiseach can say will induce me to lose my temper in that regard. I am proceeding in the ordinary way, which our rules of procedure provide, by notifying the Government that we attach importance to this matter, by giving due notice of our motion and requesting the Government to provide the appropriate time to discuss it on Tuesday.
I attach a lot of importance to my point of view also.
I can understand that, but I suggest to the Taoiseach that without exchanging incivilities across the floor of the House, he should pursue the customary course, that is, indicate through the ordinary channels when time can be provided.