I have a Private Notice Question in the names of Deputies Tunney and Moore. The question is addressed to the Minister for Labour asking him whether he will make a statement on the efforts he is making to negotiate in the Dublin bus strike. I am informed that the Minister for Labour is presently engaged at a meeting dealing with this matter. The Minister hopes to be in the House before 5 o'clock and begs the indulgence of the House for the unavoidable delay. I will facilitate the Members who have raised this question as soon as the Minister arrives.
Business of Dáil.
Thank you very much. Perhaps by the time the Minister arrives he will have answered the question.
The chair has no control of that.
There was a Private Notice Question in my name.
The note in the hands of the Chair at present refers to the question by the Deputies whose names I have mentioned.
Will the Minister be here before 5 o'clock?
I understand he will make every effort to be here. We hope the Minister will be here. I have no guarantee of that.
Do I understand that the question, which I was informed in the General Office——
I now have the Deputy's question here, which is in order, and actually has priority over the other question.
I would like a point clarified at this stage. Obviously if the Minister returns before 5 o'clock everybody will be happy. Supposing the Minister has not returned by 5 o'clock, are the Deputies who have conveyed to you their concern about this matter and who have been graciously answered by you to be left without a reply?
We shall await the outcome and hope that the Minister will turn up.
Having regard to the fact that we had here today——
The Chair has nothing to add to what the Chair has already said.
We had Ministers answering on behalf of others today. We should have a Minister.
Are we to take it that the Minister will be here by 5 p.m.? Some Deputies might be working in their rooms. Will they be informed?
I will strive to ensure that Deputies are notified as soon as the Minister is ready to appear in the House.