I Sir, on behalf of the Labour Party requested permission to move the adjournment of the House on a matter of urgent public importance, the matter being the grave hardship imposed on our citizens by the action of the Board of CIE in locking out their employees and the need for urgent steps by the Government to bring together the unions and CIE in order to secure a resumption of work through the offices of the Labour Court.
CIE Lock-Out. - Request to Move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order No. 29.
Deputy Dunne was good enough to give me notice last night of his intention to raise this matter under Standing Order No. 29. I have given it careful consideration, and I have to point out that for a motion to come within the terms of the Standing Order, it is necessary, inter alia, to establish that direct official responsibility in the matter rests on a member of the Government. Since by law responsibility for the affairs of CIE rests on the Board and not on any Member of the Government, the condition to which I have referred is not fulfilled. I must therefore rule, and my ruling is in accordance with the precedents already established by the House, that the motion is not one contemplated by the Standing Order.
This is an outrageous decision and you are leaving me no alternative, Sir, but to move your suspension in order to discuss this motion, and I do accordingly move.
There is a method by which the ruling of the Chair can be challenged and a method by which the occupant of the Chair can be removed. My Office will give every opportunity and facility to the Deputy to help him in his task.
How soon will I be afforded this opportunity?
If the Deputy calls into my Office now, he will be given all facilities.
I will be there before you.
Item No. 12, Vote 28.
Before the Minister for Education introduces his Estimate, I should like to make the point that last night I asked that Education should not be discussed today. Unfortunately it appears that somebody else had asked that another item, listed before Education, should not be discussed and I should like to protest against the Vote for the Department of Education being taken without agreement.
The order of business was left to the Taoiseach. That is all I know about it.