It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 8 (Votes 3, 5 and 39).
Order of Business.
Can the Taoiseach tell us if arrangements have yet been finalised for a meeting with the British Prime Minister?
No.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
We cannot have a debate on this.
I do not wish to. Has the Taoiseach or the Government been in touch with the British Government regarding the H-Block strike?
That is not in order on the Order of Business.
It is.
I am sorry, Deputy, it is not.
Surely we are entitled to ask the Taoiseach pertinent questions at this time? There is long-established precedent for this.
The Deputy is well aware of the situation here. The Standing Orders prescribe the procedure on parliamentary questions for obtaining information.
Standing Orders are there and there is also precedent.
There is no provision for instant questions on every possible subject.
I am not discussing every possible subject. I am discussing a matter of considerable national importance.
It is a question for the House to decide any change in these matters. The Standing Orders are there and I have to deal with the Standing Orders as they are.
I have been a Member of this House for 15 years and I have never seen a precedent for that ruling by a Member occupying the Chair.
I am sorry but we have to deal with matters which relate to the Order of Business.
I cannot allow a further curtailment of Members' rights in the House.
I am prepared to give as much lattitude as possible. I want to try to keep within the Standing Orders. When we are dealing with the Order of Business we should be doing that.
With respect, Standing Orders are there and all occupants of the Chair are guided by precedent. There is a firmly established precedent for this type of question on the Order of Business.
I have studied precedent and I have not seen in the book provided to me anything in connection with that in relation to precedent.
I respectfully suggest to the Chair that you ask your staff to provide you with the book because it is undoubtedly there. Would the Taoiseach tell me if the H-Block issue has been referred to?
I am sorry, Deputy. If every possible question is raised now we will have two sets of questions. We will have parliamentary questions and we will have instant questions and I do not know where we will end up with this.
We will not end up anywhere because it has been long established. There is no departure from procedure.
It does not appear to be that way to me. Certainly from any documentation I have on this matter, my information and the advice I have got in respect of this is that matters relating to the Order of Business as announced may be raised or the Chair has allowed questions on matters on the Order Paper or on business promised by the Government. To bring up every sort of question on the Order of Business would create a situation where we will have two systems.
I do not want to come into conflict with the Chair but it is an extremely important departure from the rights of Deputies.
I do not accept that. If the House wants to change the rules let the House change the rules.
We are not trying to change the rules.
I have been in touch already with the leader of the Fine Gael Party and I had hoped to be in touch with the leader of the Labour Party today with a view to the three of us having a meeting, perhaps next week, as already suggested in the House, to see if we can come to some new arrangement about those various matters which are causing grave concern.
I will certainly be glad to follow any direction I get from the House.
In the meantime, all I want to do is to continue with normal procedure. Will the Taoiseach tell the House if the Government support the political status of the people in H-Block?
(Interruptions.)
Surely an answer yes or no will clarify that?
(Interruptions.)
They do not know what a straight answer is.
Can the Taoiseach tell us yes or no? Do his Government support political status?
I must move on to the business of the day.
(Interruptions.)
Could I have an answer to that direct question?
I think the Deputy will agree that, if a matter of this nature could be raised on the Order of Business, there is nothing that could not be raised on it.
This has been going on since I became a Member of this House.
I am entitled to ask this type of question which is normally allowed on the Order of Business.
I find that very often attempts were made to raise matters of this sort, but that is quite a different matter.
Could the Taoiseach answer my question?
(Interruptions.)
I will not have a discussion on this matter.
This is a vitally important matter.
On such a serious matter——
I will not allow a discussion on this. Does Deputy Mitchell wish to raise something?
(Interruptions.)
I am moving on to business. Item No. 1.
I want to clear matters lest reports of this particular incident give a certain impression. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am prepared to answer any questions in the House which are put to me in accordance with the orders of the House and in accordance with Standing Orders.
Deputy Mitchell.
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Deputy Mitchell. I will move on from the Order of Business if the Deputy does not speak when called.
Surely as far as human rights are concerned this must come to an end.
So procedure is more important to the Taoiseach than his own——
(Interruptions.)
The Taoiseach can make statements but he cannot answer yes or no.
(Interruptions.)
I was trying to be orderly until the important issues which have been raised were finished. I gave notice yesterday that I was going to raise another important issue, that is the two breaches of the national understanding which the Government——
I ruled that matter out of order yesterday.
But I am making a point of order.
This is disorderly.
I want to make a point of order. I want to ask if it is in order for me to seek time from the Taoiseach for a debate on the two breaches of the national understanding on the part of the Government? Also will the Taoiseach give time for a debate due to the fact that the promise in relation to the White Paper on education has not been met?
Would the Deputy simply ask the question?
I am asking a question. I am asking a question on the subject matter for a debate. Secondly, the fact that the unemployment figures are 28,000 worse than the Government admitted them to be to the national assembly? Will time be given for a debate on those two subjects?
The question of debates on these issues is normally a matter to be decided between the Whips. If the Opposition party wish to have a debate on any particular aspect of the economy, that is a matter which they can process through the normal channels.
No, sorry——
Item No. 1 on the order paper.
(Interruptions.)
I beg your pardon.
Excuse me. We cannot hear what is going on. I do not know what is being said.
That is not the Chair's fault.
It is the Chair's fault. The Chair is here to keep order.
(Interruptions.)
I cannot hear what is being said.
This is totally disorderly.
Surely the Chair will recognise a point of order by a Deputy, Deputy Desmond?
I will recognise a point of order, yes.
I give notice of my intention to raise this afternoon on the Adjournment, with the Chair's permission, the 25 per cent increase sanctioned by the Government for the PMPA motor insurance.
I shall communicate with the Deputy later.
I want to——
Is this a point of order?
No, just a question.
I cannot accept a question.
I want to give notice to the Chair that I intend to raise on the Adjournment the question which the Chair did not give me an opportunity to raise yesterday on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
Does the Chair want to know what the question is? Does he know what it is?
I do not want to know, because the Deputy has already told me yesterday.
The Chair is smarter than I thought he was.