By agreement it is proposed to suspend Standing Order No. 38, under Standing Order No. 139 (1), until 5 p.m. tomorrow to enable Members to make statements on the current economic situation. No Member shall make more than one statement. With the exception of the opening speakers for the Government and the Opposition parties no statement shall exceed 45 minutes today or 30 minutes tomorrow. The concluding Government speaker will be called at 4.30 p.m. tomorrow. Private Members' Business will be item No. 10 (resumed). By agreement the debate on item No. 10 will not exceed four hours and ten minutes.
Order of Business.
Are the arrangements for the statements agreed?
Deputies
Yes.
Are the arrangements for the conclusion of Private Members' Business agreed?
Deputies
Yes.
On the Order of Business may I ask the Minister for Transport and for Post and Telegraphs to make a statement in relation to the lack of balance clearly displayed on RTE over the last week. For instance, on Sunday we had Keating, Monday we had Fennell and Robinson, Tuesday we had Hussey and today we have Mary Bonneti, a possible candidate for a by-election who is going live on television today. This is unfair carry-on by RTE. It appears that unless one has a red card or blue card one will not get on television.
Whatever about lack of balance elsewhere we must have balance in the House and we must proceed with the Order of Business.
Surely if we want to use the Dáil——
I am calling——
In relation to the Order of Business, surely if we are to use the Dáil to highlight grievances this is where we should do it on the Order of Business.
No. If the Deputy wants to do that he should have proposals initiated before the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
Well, I feel at present that RTE are being taken over by the red card and by the blue card of Fine Gael.
I should like to ask the Minister for Justice if, according to a report in an evening newspaper, he is making preparations to release two UDA men from custody here to members of a murder gang?
I should like to explain to Deputy Woods that he cannot raise that matter in this manner.
But this is a very important matter of security.
It may be that the Deputy will have to proceed in accordance with the terms of order.
I would ask the Tánaiste to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Justice.
I should like to ask the Tánaiste, on the Order of Business, if it is proposed that the Government will make a statement on the invasion of Grenada today in view of its serious implications?
That is not in order either, Deputy, I am sorry.
I thought we were neutral. What about our policy of neutrality in regard to foreign wars?
(Interruptions.)