Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 1973

Vol. 269 No. 10

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take Business in the following order: Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 7.

It is proposed, by agreement, that the allocation of time for speakers in the three-hour debate on the current oil situation will be as follows: the Minister for Transport and Power, half an hour to open and half an hour to conclude; a further half hour will be allocated to one other Government speaker and the remaining time will be allocated to Opposition speakers.

The sittings for the remainder of the week will be Wednesday 10.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. and Thursday 10.30 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. If the debate is not concluded the Dáil will sit at 10.30 a.m. on Friday to conclude the Adjournment Debate on the Estimate for the Department of the Taoiseach which, it is hoped, will begin tomorrow. I understand it is agreed that the Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill will be disposed of.

Mr. Blaney

Could I, for clarification, ask the Taoiseach whether it is a desire or a hope that the Adjournment Debate will start tomorrow morning or is it arranged that it will start tomorrow morning and, if it starts tomorrow morning, will the statement, as promised in reply to Questions Nos. 1 and 2 on today's Order Paper, be the first part of the Taoiseach's introduction?

The Taoiseach

I have not decided on the timetable, but it is hoped the debate will start in the morning subject to the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill being concluded this evening.

Mr. J. Lynch

The Taoiseach simply said the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill would probably be concluded. I take it from his last remark he does not believe it will conclude.

The Taoiseach

I think the Second Stage might be concluded this evening.

Mr. J. Lynch

There is agreement to conclude, but not this evening, I believe.

The Taoiseach

In reply to Deputy Blaney, the start of the Adjournment Debate depends on when the Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is concluded.

Mr. Blaney

Following on what the Taoiseach has been kind enough to indicate to the House, I want to get this matter clarified. In view of the urgency of an official account from the Taoiseach himself of the Sunningdale talks I am asking that we be given a clear understanding from the Leader of the House that we will specifically start the Adjournment Debate tomorrow; otherwise I feel there should be a statement in the meantime from the Taoiseach as the House is entitled to such a statement and not leave the House dependent on whether we pass some Bill or other things of not such great importance.

The Taoiseach

I am ready to start once the other business concludes. If the debate does not start early in the morning it will certainly start later in the day.

Mr. Blaney

I have asked the Chair to consider my request for a debate on the Adjournment tonight. If the Taoiseach were coming in in the morning with a statement that would be much more satisfactory. If he is not coming in in the morning I believe the urgency of the situation requires an accounting to the Dáil of what happened in Sunningdale at the earliest possible moment and I would have to push my request in those circumstances for an Adjournment debate tonight.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will be communicating with the Deputy later.

Mr. Blaney

My request is dependent on whether we can know that we will have a fixed and early statement from the Taoiseach and I am asking the Taoiseach if we can get that. Will there be an early start tomorrow? That would be a much more satisfactory way than any other of getting the information to which I believe the House is entitled and which I am sure the Taoiseach would be glad to give.

The Taoiseach

I am not opposed to that. If the House agrees to finish the Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill tonight the Adjournment Debate will start first thing in the morning.

Mr. J. Lynch

An agreement has been made and we are trying to be helpful. We have agreed to conclude the Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill before the debate on the Taoiseach's Estimate starts and that will probably be some time tomorrow. I think that is a reasonable enough suggestion.

Mr. Blaney

I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle but——

An Ceann Comhairle

I have given Deputy Blaney a lot of latitude on the Order of Business in the matter to which he adverts.

Mr. Blaney

On the Order of Business, might I suggest that the importance of hearing a full and official account of what took place in Sunningdale is far more important than any other business on the Order Paper? I would ask, regardless of anything else that we should get this——

An Ceann Comhairle

There is every likelihood that Deputies will be afforded an opportunity of deliberating on this matter tomorrow and on subsequent dates.