It is proposed to take business in the following order. Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1 — Order for Second Stage to be followed immediately by Second and subsequent Stages — 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Private Members' Business from 7 to 8.30 p.m. will be item No. 21. By agreement it is proposed that items Nos. 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, having been agreed today, to proceed with the Second Stage of the debates on the following Bills: Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) (No. 2) Bill, 1981, Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1981, Statute Law Revision Bill, 1981, and Funds of Suitors Bill, 1981.
Order of Business.
Why is not the appointment of the Committee of Selection on the Order of Business? The matter was raised between the Whips and we understood it would be on today's Order of Business. I wonder why that has not happened.
I do not think that was agreed, because there was some difficulty, but we will discuss it with the Whips again.
(Dún Laoghaire): My understanding was that this matter would be included in today's Order of Business. I specially asked for it to be included.
What difficulty arose? The first thing a new Dáil does is to appoint the Committee on Procedure and Privileges whose existence is essential to the life of the House. Why should there by any difficulty about setting up this committee, and why are the Government reluctant to proceed in the ordinary way?
There is no reluctance. We discussed a number of issues and if Fine Gael want it included in today's order of Business, we can include it.
What is the difficulty?
As I said, I do not think there was any difficulty. We discussed a number of matters but there was no agreement to include this item in the Order of Business. If the Deputy wishes to have it included we can do so.
It was proposed by us and we understood it was agreed. Now we are told no difficulty arose. May we have a straight answer?
It would be better for the dignity of this House if matters of this sort were left to the Whips.
Usually the first item on the Order Paper is the setting up of this committee. Why was that not done today? The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach said there was a difficulty. Deputy Seán Barrett, our Chief Whip, said there was no difficulty and he understood this matter would be on today's Order Paper. What is the problem? We want to know.
This is farcical.
Yes, absolutely farcical.
There is no difficulty in nominating the Committee of Selection, which as everybody knows, is a purely nominal procedure. It is because the Opposition have been wasting time and raising matters like this that they are on the other side of the House.
If there is no difficulty why did the Government Whips say there was.
When we were discussing the Order of Business mention was made of the Committee of Selection. There was no disagreement——
Why is it not on the Order Paper?
This committee was mentioned during the meeting and a point was raised; I am not sure what the point was, but if the Deputies want it included, we can do so. Is that all right?
It should be on today's Order Paper. The Taoiseach is telling us what an experienced politician he is and he knows that this should be the first item.
We are the Government responsible for ordering the business of this House and I am stating categorically — whether the Opposition like it or not — that we will put it on tomorrow.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The Taoiseach stated: “It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1 — Order for Second Stage followed immediately by Second and subsequent Stages — 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16”. As far as I can see, none of those items relates to a Bill. What is meant by taking the “Order for Second Stage” and taking the “Second and Remaining Stages”? That does not make sense.
No. 1 is a Bill.
No. 9 is a Bill, as are Nos. 11 and 13.
The paragraph refers to item No. 1 only.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It did not sound like that to me.
It refers to item No. 1.
I understand that all Stages of the Social Welfare Bill, 1982, are being taken today but I should like to know whether this arrangement has been agreed between the Whips. The first time I saw the Bill was this morning and I presume the same applies to other Deputies. There are some proposals in that Bill which may require amendment, but if the Bill is to be completed today there will be no opportunity for tabling amendments.
Agreement was reached between the Whips in regard to taking all Stages of the Bill today.
Having the budget on Thursday leaves us in some difficulty as to when the Leader of the Opposition will be opening the debate on the budget. May we take it that the opening speech from the Opposition in this regard will be on Tuesday next, that is, after Question Time on that day.
Yes.
And after I have had adequate time for reflection.
We shall facilitate the Opposition in every way.
There appears to be something drastically wrong with the microphone system today.
That is another matter that I shall have investigated.