It is proposed to take Nos. 1, 4, 22, 23, 24 and 25.
Return to Writs: Donegal-Leitrim and South County Dublin. - Order of Business.
On the order of business——
On a point of order, I have a motion down about which I gave the Chair notice. The Chair told me I could rise after the Order of Business.
After the Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, the business set out here refers to the Finance Bill, the Decimal Currency Bill, the Transport Bill, Second Stage, and so on. Is it not quite clear that this proposed legislation, even if we sit until midnight every day from this until Christmas, will not be concluded and, in those circumstances, may I suggest to the Taoiseach that the subject matter of Deputy Cosgrave's Private Notice Question should be and could be debated because it is a matter of urgent public importance instead of us wasting our time discussing legislation which will not in fact be concluded?
Deputies
Hear. hear.
Why would not this time be made available?
Because it is necessary to have the Bills before the House concludes.
We can sit longer hours. Does not the Taoiseach know well——
Deputy Corish rose.
This matter should be concluded before I call Deputy Corish.
The Ceann Comhairle knows very well that what has been mentioned here is the subject matter of the motion. With your permission, may I proceed?
Certainly.
A Cheann Comhairle, in accordance with our rights under Standing Order 29, the members of the Labour Party put before the House the following motion:
Request to move the Adjournment of the Dáil for the purpose of discussing the following definite matter of urgent public importance : to wit, the decision of the Government in relation to Part II of the Offences Against the State Act, 1940.
We have had question and answer about this particular matter and the announcement of the Government on last Friday and, no matter what points may have been——
We cannot discuss this matter. The Deputy is attempting to discuss the motion.
Will the Chair rule now?
Yes, if the Deputy wishes.
May I proceed with my submission?
I feel that the Chair's ruling should be given at this juncture because the Deputy cannot discuss the subject matter of the motion that he has just outlined.
Except it is relevant on the Order of Business.
I want to submit to the House that this matter is a definite matter of urgent public importance and perhaps I could proceed on those lines?
No. The Deputy may not discuss the matter now. It is a matter for the Chair as to whether or not permission will be given to discuss this.
And what does the Chair say?
The Chair has carefully considered—will the Deputy please resume his seat? —the Chair has carefully considered this matter and he is grateful to the Deputies for giving him early notice of the questions. In my opinion it does not qualify under Standing Order 29.
Shame.
I would point out that Part II of the Act has not been brought into operation and may never be brought into operation. No one can be interned at the moment and, for that reason, I cannot allow the motion under the Standing Order.
This is the weakest and flimsiest excuse I have ever heard from any Ceann Comhairle.
Order.
I suggest that this is an abuse of the discretion which the Chair has.
Deputies
Chair, Chair.
I cannot see, for the life of me——
The Deputy may not discuss the matter.
——how standing Order 29 does not allow the Ceann Comhairle to say that there will be a debate on this particular issue.
Standing Order 29 relates to a definite matter of urgent public importance and, as no definite step has been taken, there can be no discussion; the Government merely indicated a possible step for the future if certain circumstances prevail.
(Cavan): Without further notice.
Apart from what the Ceann Comhairle knows, and what the Taoiseach says his intentions are, I firmly believe that the general public should be informed as to what this particular threat by the Government really means and I think it is ridiculous for the Taoiseach to say we have not enough time to debate this between this and Christmas. With due respect to the various Ministers of the Government——
We cannot discuss this matter now. We will proceed with the Order of Business. No. 1.