It is proposed to take Nos. 4, 11 and 5. By agreement and notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the debate on Item No. 4 shall not exceed two hours. The speech of each Member shall not exceed 15 minutes and the concluding speaker shall be the Minister for Foreign Affairs who shall be entitled to not less than 15 minutes. Also by agreement there shall be no debate on Item No. 11 and if a division is challenged on Nos. 4, 11 and 5 today the taking of such divisions shall be postponed until 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday next.
Order of Business.
I should like to congratulate the Government on the comprehensive programme of legislation we have before us today. I should like to express a doubt as to the capacity of Deputies to deal with this very arduous and complex business.
Has the Deputy any point to make?
My point is that the Government have no business to put before the Dáil. It is as simple as that.
That is a disgraceful thing to say about the Department of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Gerry Collins is embarassed. Deputy Haughey has let the side down again.
Dún Laoghaire): We were requested by the Opposition to provide this day for foreign affairs. It is very unfair of the Leader of the Opposition to make a remark like that. We also facilitated Members of his party by taking a motion out of Private Members Business and putting it into Government time. That was done to suit members of Fianna Fáil. We have also been requested on numerous occasions by Deputy Gerry Collins to have a day devoted to foreign affairs in the Dáil. We have done that, but look at the response we got from the Opposition.
The Government did not give time last week to discuss proposed increases in interest rates.
How did Deputy Gerry Collins let the leader of his party away with that?
(Interruptions.)