It is proposed to take No. 10, resuming the adjournment debate of yesterday, and it has been agreed that the adjournment debate will end at 2 o'clock this afternoon, that the last Labour Party speaker will be called upon at 12.15, that the last Fine Gael speaker will be called upon at 1 p.m. and that I will be called on to conclude at 1.30 p.m. It is proposed then at 2 o'clock to take Questions. It is proposed also to finish Questions and for that purpose it will be necessary to move to sit later than 5 o'clock. Seven o'clock has been suggested but it is possible that that would not give enough time. I suggest that we sit not later than 8 o'clock but the likelihood is that we will finish before 7 o'clock.
Order of Business.
May I ask why the proposal to give one Party more time than the others? The Labour Party apparently are to get from 12.15 to 1 p.m. and Fine Gael from 1 p.m. to 1.30.
We requested three-quarters of an hour.
I do not see why they decided to give the smallest Party longer time than the others.
It is what you say that counts.
When I got this note I queried that, too, and I was told that at the Whips' meeting the Labour Party Whip was insistent on getting three-quarters of an hour, that the Fine Gael Whip agreed and that, for the sake of peace and harmony, everybody agreed.
Could the debate not conclude at 2.30? This would be the right thing to do.
I will be generous with the last speaker. He can encroach on my time.
I must say it is a funny proposal, that the smallest Party wants the longest time.
We will agree to give you all three-quarters of an hour. We do not mind.
Surely we should not be restricted because you want a half hour.
A half hour is fair for everyone.
Three-quarters of an hour is fair.
We wanted to continue the debate next Tuesday.
Whoever speaks last may have some of my time. Deputy Dr. FitzGerald has been speaking long enough for two or three people anyway.