Question No. 1, to the Minister for Health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers.
On a point of order—I presume the Minister for Defence is about to leave the House; I see him gathering up his papers— have we any remedy to deal with the attitude of the Government towards Question Time? We have two Parliamentary Secretaries opposite and the Minister for Defence who was concluding on the Estimate for his Department.
This is not a matter for the Chair. I would appeal to Members not to——
On a point of order, is the Dáil to be treated——
I would appeal to Members not to raise questions of this kind and thereby erode the precious time available for questions.
——in the same way as the Seanad was treated this morning when the Minister——
Deputy Cunningham, please.
——was drinking coffee in the bar and not attending in the Seanad?
I have called Question No. 1. Will the Deputy please allow questions to proceed?
Is this House now going to be treated to this kind of charade by the Government at Question Time——
Question No. 1.
——which goes on today from half past two to five o'clock?
Would Deputy Cunningham please allow Question Time to proceed?
On a point of order, I want a House called.
Notice taken that 20 Members were not present; House counted, and 20 Members being present,
On a point of order, may I have a ruling as to whether it is or is not in order for a Member to call attention to the absence of a quorum during questions, thereby causing the suspension of the House?
I deem it to be in order, however unusual it may be.
On a point of order—I do not want to have any tags in this—it is in order, full stop.
Would the Deputy please allow Question Time to continue?
On a point of order, your ruling is that, despite the unusual character of what has just happened, this House cannot continue without 20 Members being present during Question Time. Will you also rule whether it is the Government's duty to be in the House in view of the fact that Question Time exists in the interests mainly of the Opposition? Is it the Government's duty to be in the House?
This would not be a matter for a ruling by me.
It is very important because there are Deputies here who have put down no question and who are not concerned in the answers to the questions that have been put down. Must they sit here when they have other things to do merely to satisfy the Opposition?
Question Time involves questioners and people to answer those questions. I called for a House because I felt the Government were not providing the Minister to answer questions.
Could we proceed now with questions?