Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 1967

Vol. 229 No. 3

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 11 and 12 and, in 12, Vote 37.

Before the Leader of the Opposition leaves, I want to make a suggestion about the remainder of the session. There is a general desire to conclude the business by the end of this month but because of the local elections and because many Deputies will be candidates in these elections and many others who are not candidates would wish to vote in their respective areas, it might be better to avoid sittings that week. It might be possible to end the business next week if there were long sittings, including Fridays. I should like the Whips to consider such a proposition.

Mr. Cosgrave

We will consider it but I cannot say at this stage that we will readily assent to a proposal to curtail the session.

The Taoiseach

I have no objection but, in that case, I would propose resumption of sittings during the first week of July.

Mr. Sweetman

When are we going to have the Common Market debate?

The Taoiseach

As an adjournment debate, I would suggest.

Mr. Cosgrave

I thought we tentatively agreed last week, informally, admittedly, to have it on the 27th, that is, the Tuesday. If necessary, then, I suppose we could adjourn that night.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy may be wrong in that impression. I think he and Deputy Corish left my room when we suggested that we would let things run last week until we would see how we proceeded. We thought it was not generally possible to have a debate on the Common Market on the day before the local elections. However, it is still open for consideration by the Whips. I am throwing this out only as a suggestion. I am saying that, if it is not possible to conclude before the week in which the local elections are held, I propose that there be no sitting that week and that we resume sittings the week after.

Mr. James Tully

It would appear that the confusion is due to having two sets of Whips making the arrangements and the second have not been any more successful than the first.

Mr. Sweetman

I think it has been caused by something entirely different. They want the big Mercedes cars out at State expense on 28th June. There is no doubt about that.