It is proposed to take Nos. 23, 24, 25, 6, 7 and 26, in that order.
Order of Business.
There are two matters I wish to raise. The first is that for the second week in succession a question, which would appear to be quite legitimate, asking the Taoiseach to make provision for the attendance here of MPs from the Six Counties, now that they have no Parliament of their own, has not appeared. It was refused last week and has not appeared this week. I do not know how I can get this thing across unless the Chair can do something about it.
The Chair has already pointed out to Deputy Blaney and has made it clear that this is not a matter for the Taoiseach. This is a matter for the Dáil.
Surely not the Question I put in this week? I asked the Taoiseach to take whatever steps were necessary to enable these people to be allowed into this House, which is quite a different thing from asking to invite them as we now are.
That is the Question to which I referred.
I am sorry, it was not. What I got was a communication from the Chair in relation to an invitation to attend, whereas it was a double-barrelled question of making provision for and inviting them here. I do not appear to have any hope of having a question on the Order Paper on this matter. On the Order of Business, might I again at this stage, for the third time, ask the Taoiseach whether he has in the meantime considered the provision of time to discuss all the matters surrounding the Health initiative of some weeks ago and, if so, whether he is prepared to make time available in the immediate future if at all possible?
I indicated to the Deputy the last time he raised this that an opportunity would be offered at an appropriate time. I cannot go further than that at this stage.
Am I right in understanding that we may not be meeting next week—indeed, a very appropriate time? The latest time we should be discussing this would be during the week after next, that is, if we are ever going to have an opportunity of discussing it.
The Deputy may be assured that I pick what I consider to be the appropriate time and not what the Deputy thinks is the appropriate time.
If you can settle this among yourselves I will agree to a debate.
The fear the Taoiseach expressed the week after the Health initiatives were announced was that it would be an inprudent thing to discuss it and that imprudent speeches might be made in the House. I tried to indicate that this is a reflection on the House. Time has indicated that no speeches are being made inside or outside the House and that, in fact, the only imprudent thing about the whole matter is that there is a total silence about it within the House, which is the only Parliament in this land that should be discussing it. We, in this House, are the only people who have a right to discuss this matter.
Would the Taoiseach give us any idea of what and when is an appropriate time? People's lives are at stake in this issue. We want the people of the world and of Ireland to recognise and realise our stand on this issue. If Mr. Health has made initiatives, it is time for the Taoiseach to follow them up.
I have given an answer to Deputy Blaney.