It is proposed to take business in the following order: Nos. 1 and 7; Private Members' business will be No. 22.
Order of Business.
I should like to inform the House that we have no agreement on the business as announced by the Taoiseach. We have made it quite clear that we are not happy that the business of the House shall be interrupted to take the Family Planning Bill. At this last stage we are asking the Taoiseach and the Government to reconsider their stance on the matter.
I have proposed the Order of Business and I propose that it be taken as I have set it out.
In regard to item No. 7 and the budget debate, in view of the fact that a number of decisions have been taken by the Government since budget day which considerably alter the financial provisions and the arithmetic of the budget, may I ask the Taoiseach if it would be possible to bring forward and publish for the benefit of Members participating in the debate on item No. 7 a new budget table that would incorporate all the changes that have been made since budget day and let us see exactly what we are debating on item No. 7?
I see no necessity for that whatever.
No necessity?
It is self-evident.
Does the Taoiseach not acknowledge that there have been three significant decisions by the Government that affect the Exchequer in one way or another and that considerably alter the budget tables?
That cannot be debated now. It can be raised in the budget debate.
Would the Chair not think it would be helpful and constructive for the debate if the Government brought forward the real budget at this stage?
It would not be appropriate for the Chair to have thoughts like that. I am calling Deputy De Rossa.
It will be the same budget at the end of the year.
The Deputy is a phoney——
Order, please. I have called Deputy De Rossa.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach if it is proposed to make a statement in the Dáil today concerning the increase in mortgage interest rate.
That does not arise now. It can be dealt with in the budget debate.
It arises on the basis that it seems decisions have been made to alter the budgetary proposals made here some weeks ago.
I am ruling it does not arise on the Order of Business.
I am simply asking if the Taoiseach will indicate if he proposes to make a statement in the House on the matter and on the changes made in the budget.
It does not arise in that way.
The debate before the House at the moment is a debate on the budget as presented by the Minister. In so far as that budget has been changed, I wish to know if a member of the Government proposes to introduce the necessary changes for approval in this House or do the Government propose to introduce a supplementary budget?
I have ruled this does not arise on the Order of Business in this way. It may be dealt with in the budget debate.
Does the Taoiseach propose that the debate shall continue as if no changes had been made?
I have asked the Deputy to co-operate with the Chair. I have ruled that out of order in this way.
If the Taoiseach and Government would co-operate with the House we could do that.
On a point of order——
Order please. Will Deputies please stop having conversations?
On the night of the budget this House passed, and in some cases voted on, Financial Resolutions but the impact of those resolutions in many cases has been subsequently changed by Government decision. For the benefit of all those affected by the Financial Resolutions, I wish to know if those Financial Resolutions as passed by us on budget day are still valid or are new Financial Resolutions not required? This is a point of order——
It is not a point of order and I ask the Deputy to accept that. It may be dealt with in the budget debate which is before the House.
I submit to your ruling, but I want to submit that I am talking about the procedures of the House and Financial Resolution which affect revenue and the Exchequer which were passed by us in this House in a certain form and which have now been radically changed in some instances by the Government. What is the status of those resolutions at this stage?
It is not the Chair's business to say.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of clarification, the Government asked the House to pass a budget providing for a deficit of £1,244 million. It is clear that the deficit they are asking us to adopt now——
That can be raised on financial motions which have been ordered for today. Deputy O'Kennedy should not argue with the Chair.