Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 1985

Vol. 361 No. 11

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take item No. 7. By agreement, the Dáil shall sit not later than 11 p.m. today, 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday and 5.45 p.m. on Thursday and business shall be interrupted at 10.30 p.m., 9 p.m. and 5.15 p.m. respectively. Also by agreement, the following arrangements shall apply for the debate on item No. 7:

(a) Each speaker, with the exception of the opening and concluding speakers for the Government and the main Opposition party, shall not exceed 30 minutes.

(b) The concluding speaker for the main Opposition party shall be called on not later than 3.45 p.m. on Thursday next and shall not exceed 45 minutes.

(c) The concluding speaker, who shall be a member of the Government, shall be called on not later than 4.30 p.m. on Thursday next.

(d) If a division is challenged on the motion or on any amendment thereto, the taking of such division shall be postponed until 5.15 p.m. Thursday, 21 November 1985.

Also by agreement and notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 21 June 1983, the report of the Committee on Public Expenditure on "Control of Capital Projects" shall be taken next week.

Also by agreement there will be no Private Members' Business this week.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are the arrangements for this week's business agreed?

Mr. Blaney

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

Unless the Deputy is objecting, I shall hear him afterwards.

Mr. Blaney

This is on the Order of Business.

An Ceann Comhairle

Are you objecting to the arrangements?

Mr. Blaney

How could I? Let me put it this way, if what I am requesting were to be acceded to, I would have no objection. However, on the assumption that what is there, if agreed, is what stands without consideration of what I want to ask about, then I would have to say that I am objecting.

An Ceann Comhairle

It all depends on what the Deputy is asking. Therefore I had better hear it.

Mr. Blaney

I think it would be better if the Ceann Comhairle heard it before the Order of Business is agreed to. I shall be brief. I am asking, through you, Sir, whether in view of the momentous matter that will be discussed here in the next three days, in particular in regard to the smaller parties, whether registered or unregistered, it might be considered and-possibly conceded that, by agreement of the two major elements in the House, that is the Opposition and the Government, some additional time might be given to the spokesmen from the small unregistered or registered parties, such as The Workers' Party, on the one hand, and myself on the other.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is the duty of the Chair to see that fair play is meted out in the calling of speakers during a debate. The Chair will do his best to see to it that such fair play is given within the order made by the House for regulating the debate during the week.

Mr. Blaney

Without holding up the business of the House in any way might I, through your good offices, Sir, appeal to the Leaders of the Government and the Opposition — not here and now; perhaps some time this evening — to give consideration as to whether there might be, in view of the situation I have outlined——

An Ceann Comhairle

It would not be appropriate for the Chair to allow bargaining of that sort on the floor of the House. The Chair can only suggest to the Deputy that he contact the Whips of the parties he has in mind.

Mr. Blaney

And I am sure your blessing will be forthcoming, Sir.

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Deputy comes back with an agreement the Chair will operate it.

Tomás Mac Giolla

Might I support the point made by Deputy Blaney, the basic point being that 30 minutes is not sufficient in which to deal with this agreement in this debate? May I ask that that period be extended at least to 45 minutes?

An Ceann Comhairle

I had better get agreement on what we have here, if I can. Are the arrangements for the hours of sitting this week agreed? Agreed. Are the arrangements for the taking of Item No. 7 on today's Order of Business agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed that the Report of the Committee on Public Expenditure: Control of Capital Projects be taken next week notwithstanding the order of the Dáil of 21 June 1983? Agreed. Is it agreed that we have no Private Members' time this week? Agreed.