Nos. 1, 5 to 17 and 23. Private Members' Business 6 to 7.30 p.m.—No. 43—by agreement. The Dáil will sit tomorrow from 10.30 a.m. until 10.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
On the Order of Business, I notice that No. 1 is an important Bill dealing with agricultural workers' holidays. Do the Government not regard this as a matter of urgency, since they have not moved to have it sent to the Seanad for introduction? We were told last week that it would facilitate the legislative programme if certain Bills were sent to the Seanad. Here is one that might go by agreement. Why did they not seek to have this Bill taken in the Seanad?
If you agree to send it to the Seanad, we will agree.
That did not stop them before.
We never know what they are likely to do over there.
Our permission should be sought before other Bills are sent.
Your permission?
When I was Chief Whip I never did anything without the co-operation and full consent of the Opposition and I found we got over the business more expeditiously. We can hold this Bill up to Christmas if we wish.
You had no dissidents then, though.
We had, and you have a share of them, too.
Or foxes, does the Taoiseach mean?
(Interruptions.)
I want to dispose of No. 1.
On the Order of Business, may I, through you, Sir, ask the Taoiseach, particularly in view of the transfer to the Seanad of that controversial issue last week, whether it is not the appropriate time and indeed the proper climate in which this House be given an opportunity of discussing item No. 4, the repeal of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1972?
I always marvel at the Deputy's blaséness in this. The Deputy is not really sincere. He himself was a member of a Government that interned people, which was the last Government that did it.
Now, the Taoiseach should not start——
I do not mind sincerity. But the Deputy was a member of a Government that interned people. He wants to forget that. His colleagues who were dissidents now forget it.
The Taoiseach is there now.
I reject fraud and that is why I reject the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)