Dún Laoghaire): I move:
That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders 31, 34 and 35 of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business—
(1) In relation to Questions for oral answer appearing on the Order Paper, the following provisions shall apply as and from 11 June, 1985, and for a period of one year:—
(a) Questions addressed to the Taoiseach may be asked only on a Tuesday or Wednesday and shall be placed on the Order Paper before Questions to other members of the Government to be asked on the same day;
(b) Questions addressed to other members of the Government may be asked on the basis of a daily rota as set out in the Schedule hereto and shall be in two categories:—
(i) Questions, the sequence of which shall be decided by lottery, and
(ii) Questions nominated for priority by a group [as defined by Standing Order 85 (1)] in Opposition;
(c) In relation to Questions comprehended by subparagraph (b) (i) of this paragraph, the following provisions shall apply:—
(i) No Member may put down more than two Questions to each member of the Government for answer on any one day;
(ii) Questions must reach the Clerk not later than 11 a.m. on the fourth day preceding that on which they are to be asked, not reckoning a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday;
(iii) Where the rota set out in the Schedule hereto provides that Questions to two members of the Government are to be asked on the same day, Questions to the member to whom the lesser number is addressed shall be placed first on the Order Paper and shall be allocated not more than one half of the time available to both;
(iv) The sequence in which the Questions addressed to each member of the Government will appear on the Order Paper shall be determined by lottery, at which Members may attend, which shall be held on the fourth day preceding that on which the Questions are to be asked, not reckoning a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday;
(v) A member nominated by a group in Opposition may, on request, be provided with the texts of Questions put down by Members of that group;
(vi) If any Question is not reached, the member of the Government to whom it is addressed shall cause an answer to be provided in the Official Report of the Debates unless
(a) the Member in whose name the Question appears on the Order Paper requests, before 4 p.m. on that day that that Question be re-entered in the lottery for the next day on which the member of the Government to whom the question is addressed is to answer, or
(b) such answer would, in the opinion of the Ceann Comhairle, prejudice the answering of a Question which has been entered in the lottery or which has been nominated for priority for the next day on which the member of the Government to whom the question is addressed is to answer;
(d) The provisions of subparagraph (c) (ii) of this paragraph shall also apply in the case of Questions addressed to the Taoiseach;
(e) In relation to Questions comprehended by subparagraph (b) (ii) of this paragraph, the following provisions shall apply:—
(i) Each Question shall be in the name of a Member nominated by a group and must reach the Clerk not later than 11 a.m. on the third day preceding that on which it is to be asked, not reckoning a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday;
(ii) Questions nominated for priority for any one day shall be placed on the Order Paper so as to rotate between groups in Opposition, with preference being given to the larger group: provided that the number of such Questions for any one day appearing on the Order Paper shall not exceed five;
(iii) Supplementary questions may be put only by the Member in whose name the Question appears on the Order Paper;
(iv) If any Question is not reached, the member of the Government to whom the Question is addressed shall cause an answer to be provided in the Official Report of the Debates unless
(a) the Member in whose name the Question appears on the Order Paper indicates, before 4 p.m. on that day, that the Question has again been nominated for priority or requests that the Question be entered in the lottery for the next day on which the member of the Government to whom the Question is addressed is to answer, or
(b) such answer would, in the opinion of the Ceann Comhairle, prejudice the answering of a Question which has been entered in the lottery or which has been nominated for priority for the next day on which the member of the Government to whom the Question is addressed is to answer;
(f) The Order Paper governing each sitting of the Dáil on a Tuesday or Wednesday shall also contain Questions, other than Questions nominated for priority, for answer on the following day;
(g) Questions shall be taken from 2.30 p.m. to 3.45 p.m.: Provided that the time allowed in the case of Questions comprehended by subparagraphs (a) and (b) (i) of this paragraph shall not exceed one hour; and the time allowed in the case of Questions comprehended by subparagraph (b) (ii) of the paragraph shall not exceed fifteen minutes;
(h) A member of the Government may, where appropriate, group both categories of Question comprehended by subparagraph (b) of this paragraph and Questions put down for written answer for the purposes of reply; and
(i) The Order of the Dáil of 15 December, 1982, implementing the recommendation contained in paragraph 14 of the Report of the Informal Committee on the Reform of Dáil Procedure shall not apply; and
(2) The member of the Government concerned shall, in respect of each Question appearing on the Order Paper governing the sitting immediately prior to the coming into effect of paragraph 1 of this Order and not reached, cause an answer to be provided in the Official Report of the Debates for that day.
SCHEDULE
Day |
Member of Government |
One |
Minister for Energy |
Two |
Minister for Foreign Affairs |
Three |
Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism |
Four |
Minister for the Environment |
Five |
Minister for Defence Minister for the Public Service |
Six |
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Minister for the Gaeltacht |
Seven |
Minister for Communications |
Eight |
Minister for Finance |
Nine |
Minister for Health |
Ten |
Minister for Social Welfare |
Eleven |
Minister for Agriculture |
Twelve |
Minister for Justice |
Thirteen |
Minister for Education |
Fourteen |
Minister for Labour |
Fifteen |
sequence to recommence with Minister for Energy. |