It is proposed to take Nos. 2 and 23 (Votes 48, 48 Supplementary, 43, 44, 45 and 46). Private Members Business 6 to 7.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
Is the Taoiseach aware that only this morning a very large Supplementary Estimate for Defence was circulated to Deputies and that it is ordered for today? It opens up a discussion on the entire Department of Defence. It is an Estimate for approximately £3½ million.
It is being introduced today.
It is ordered for discussion today.
We have not come to it.
Could I get a reply?
If the Deputy does not agree to have it dealt with, if that is the attitude of his Party, we will postpone it.
It is not being co-operative to circulate an Estimate of that size this morning and expect it to be taken today.
They are caught for time.
This is typical of the co-operation we are getting from the Minister for Defence.
Any reasonable request from the Opposition parties in relation to the business in this House is always considered and discussed in advance. If the Deputy had any complaint to make, he should have made it as soon as he discovered the matter being circulated.
I could not raise it sooner than now. I only got it this morning.
The Deputy has his own Whips to go to and if there was any difficulty it would be a very easy matter——
The Dáil starts at 3 o'clock, in fairness. We get this in the post today and we are asked to take it today. It is on the Order Paper.
The Deputy must be aware that the Whips get in touch with each other early in the day.
There was no question of the Whips getting in touch with each other about it and I want to object——
OK. If you want to object we will put it back.
Why was the Electoral Bill, Committee and remaining Stages, put down to be taken tomorrow?
(Cavan): They are still counting.
Because we want to get it passed.
I want to indicate on Committee Stage, since the Minister is not prepared to meet us at all, an amendment for Report Stage.
I am not the Minister responsible. The Deputy can tell the Minister on Committee Stage what he wants to indicate. That is enough at the moment.
Let us not be too slick about this. I will have no time tomorrow to put down amendments between Committee and Report Stages.
We cannot discuss the Committee Stage of the Bill at this stage.
I am not discussing the Committee Stage of the Bill, a Cheann Comhairle, as you blooming well know. I am asking the Taoiseach why all Stages of this Bill were put down for tomorrow.
The Deputy had four weeks to put down an amendment if he wanted to.
I did put down an amendment and the Minister would not meet it.
What is the Deputy complaining about, so?
I am complaining that I want to put down amendments between the Committee and Report Stages.
Let the House decide.
With respect, any Deputy has the right to object to the order in which business is taken and I certainly object in this case, unless I am met reasonably. The Taoiseach talks about a reasonable request. I am making a reasonable request. Am I going to be met on this Electoral Bill or not?
The matter the Deputy refers to is not mentioned in the Order of Business.
If there were more liaison between Deputies and the Whips, we would get on better.
"The Committee and remaining Stages to be taken." We were informed of this.
It has been parliamentary practice for years and years past that the Whips get together and the Whips are presumed to speak for their members. It would be an impossible task if our Whips had to get in touch with each of the Deputies opposite to arrange business.
This type of thing is not done and the Taoiseach knows this as well as I do.
Can I get the Taoiseach back on this?
We will be back on this tomorrow, of course.
Obviously, the Whips were misled on this because there was a Supplementary Estimate circulated last week on Defence but it dealt with pensions and a separate one for a considerable sum was circulated this morning and all of this is expected to be taken. I do not think it is fair and I hope the Taoiseach will agree to deferring this.
The Deputy said a few minutes ago that the Minister for Defence was not doing enough and now when he is trying to do more he is objecting to it.
The Parliamentary Secretary is talking through his hat, as usual.
They waste so much time. That is the whole trouble.
What is going to happen?
Get the Whips together. You will have plenty of time. The Health Estimate is still continuing.
Very well. We will get the Whips together.