It is proposed to take Business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 7, inclusive, and No. 24. Questions will be taken at 3 p.m. It is agreed to take all stages of the Value-Added Tax Bill and to sit, if necessary, until midnight. There will be a luncheon break at 1.30 p.m. until 3 p.m. It is proposed to take the Ministers and Secretaries Bill, to conclude, immediately after Questions.
Order of Business.
This is the first thing we have heard about a luncheon break. Usually this kind of thing is discussed with the Whips, but the Whips know nothing about this.
There was no communication at all.
I was handed an amended Order of Business in handwriting and that indicated the luncheon break.
Whose handwriting is it?
Does the Taoiseach mean a break in the Order of Business or will the House adjourn?
A suspension of the House from 1.30 p.m. until 3 p.m.
We have agreed to extend the period of the sitting by an hour and a half until midnight and now it is proposed to take an hour and a half off in the afternoon.
Very well. We will scrap the luncheon break.
I am glad of the luncheon break, I can assure the Taoiseach, but surely that would be the time to take the Ministers and Secretaries Bill.
Mr. Browne
The luncheon break was asked for by the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Cosgrave, and it was agreed.
When did you last see your father?
Mr. Browne
It would probably be fairer to say that the luncheon break was suggested by the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Cosgrave, and we consulted with the Labour Party, as far as we could do so, and they also agreed.
At 11 p.m. last night.
The Deputy said a moment ago he heard nothing about it.
No.
I think there was a misunderstanding. An indication was given of the desire to have the Ministers and Secretaries Bill and it was suggested by the Leader of the Opposition that it might be appropriate to take it during lunchtime in order to give those involved a break in the sequence of Business but, if the Taoiseach agrees that the House will continue until midnight——
I am not agreeing. I am accepting the suggestion of the Leader of the Fine Gael Party of a luncheon break.
By a change in the sequence of Business.
The suggestion did not come from us.
I did not mention the Labour Party.
The Government Whips office got in touch with me at about 10.27 last night suggesting there would be a break between 1.30 p.m. and 3 p.m. this afternoon. I said I personally had no objection to that but let it be brought up on the Order of Business. As far as I and my party are concerned, we agree to a luncheon break.
It is a misinterpretation. It is a break in the sequence of Business.
We are anxious to take the Ministers and Secretaries Bill and it would seem logical to take it in that period and thereby speed up the Value-Added Tax Bill.
Surely we have more things to discuss during the suggested luncheon break.
The Ministers and Secretaries Bill was agreed to be taken immediately after Questions and, since I am the Minister concerned, I would prefer that we would stick to the Whips' arrangement. Think about it.
I understood we would be doing the Value-Added Tax Bill until midnight. How long is it proposed to discuss the Ministers and Salaries Bill?
I do not believe it will take very long, but I think Deputies opposite would probably know that better than we would. Do the Fine Gael Party want a luncheon break or not?
No. We would like to take the Ministers and Secretaries Bill after lunch.
Item No. 1, Social Welfare (Pay-related Benefit) Bill, 1972. First Stage.
I do not think we agreed to the Order of Business.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach when it is proposed to take Motion No. 23 on the Order Paper?
That deals with the Mid-Cork by-election. The Leader of the Deputy's party raised this matter here last Thursday morning, asking a direct question: When was it proposed to move the writ? Since then, the Fine Gael Party have decided to move the writ themselves. Ever since last Thursday and, indeed, long before last Thursday, they knew that such a writ would require four days notice.
Kevin Boland's did not require four days notice.
They also knew that the House was due to adjourn next Friday for the summer recess. They could have moved that writ, or submitted the motion for the writ, any time between Thursday last and Monday, knowing they would be within the rules and within Standing Orders in doing so. I suggest they deliberately delayed putting down that motion until yesterday and I suggest, too, that there is a little bit of gamesmanship involved. Obviously they anticipate that we will oppose the motion under Standing Orders. However, if the Fine Gael Party wish to move the motion, this party will have no objection to their moving it now.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
We will call your bluff and move it.
Is the Taoiseach accepting the motion? Is it agreed?
Deputies
Move it.
The motion has to be moved.
What are Fine Gael Deputies looking so worried about?