It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 3, 15 and 1.
Order of Business.
I assume that the business included under No. 3 will be debated without restriction as to time and content.
I have no intention and no desire to restrict the time for the debate on this motion, but I would put it to the House that it is desirable that the Government should be completed and that the country should have a full Government in office without undue delay.
That is really of no relevance at present because there are enough Ministers to carry on, if they are able to; the point is this debate must be unlimited as to time and unlimited as to content.
Might I make a suggestion, without any commitment as far as my party is concerned? To say the least of it, this has been an abnormal week and there has not been adequate time for consultation between the Whips. As a matter of fact, as far as the Order of Business is concerned, it has only been in our hands and made known to us in the last 20 minutes. As far as my party is concerned, we should, I think, allow this motion to be moved now by the Taoiseach, a discussion follow and, in the meantime, the Whips meet to see whether or not there could be a termination to this particular debate, on the firm understanding that the Taoiseach will be prepared to take the notices of motion in which no confidence in the Government is expressed.
I will accept that proposition entirely.
This is an unlimited debate then as to time and content, subject to the Whips meeting later?
If the Whips disagree there is no commitment.
If the Whips meet and agree on the lines suggested by Deputy Corish, otherwise we would come to a conclusion on this motion as early as possible. I have no intention whatever of avoiding discussion on the motions of no confidence.
Might I suggest that it might be agreed that this motion of the Taoiseach would go through within half-an-hour, or an hour, followed by the motion of no confidence?
Deputies
No.