In the matter of questions, it has been arranged that all the questions will be taken today to facilitate the production and distribution to Members of tomorrow's Order Paper. If a large number of today's questions were not reached and had to be incorporated in tomorrow's Order Paper it would be difficult to have the Order Paper available at the usual time. As there are 131 questions for answer, I propose to limit the number of supplementary questions and I would ask the full co-operation of all the Deputies to this end.
Production of Dáil Order Paper.
On a point of order. I take it that your notice of intent to limit the number of supplementary questions is a request for co-operation from your colleagues in the House. There is no Standing Order under which the number of supplementaries can be limited.
Supplementary questions are at the discretion of the Chair as to the number and relevancy.
And doubtless everyone will wish to co-operate with the Chair.
In view of the fact that, normally, questions would cease at 4 p.m. and would be continued tomorrow, there is still the same time taken up. Why, therefore, limit the number of supplementaries?
In order to prepare tomorrow's Order Paper.
I appreciate that, but these would be answered tomorrow and there would be no necessity for the limitation of supplementaries.
So that questions may be got out in time to be put on tomorrow's Order Paper. They have to be stencilled.
They would still take the same time, whether they are answered today or tomorrow, in the aggregate. I do not want to be taken as objecting to your ruling but I would ask you not to be too rigid.
I am asking for the co-operation of Deputies.
You will get that.
You will get that.
But let us not have precedents introduced that we will have restrictions that we never had before.
I do not think the Chair ever imposed his authority too rigidly.