Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 15 Dec 1989

Vol. 394 No. 7

Order of Business.

The Taoiseach

It is proposed to take items Nos. 2, 4 and 5. It is also proposed that item No. 2 shall be taken without debate.

It is further proposed that in the debate on item No. 4 the following arrangements shall apply: (1) speakers shall be confined to spokespersons for each of the groups as defined in Standing Order 89; (2) speeches shall not exceed ten minutes; (3) the Minister for Finance shall be entitled to a concluding speech not exceeding five minutes.

It is further proposed that the proceedings on item No. 5 shall be brought to a conclusion at 4.00 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: (1) the speech of any Member called on shall not exceed 20 minutes and (2) the Minister for Finance shall be called on to conclude the debate not later than 3.50 p.m.

It is further proposed that the Dáil, on its rising for the Christmas recess, shall adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 January 1990.

An Ceann Comhairle

May I now ask if the proposal that No. 2 be taken without debate is agreed?

Mr. Dukes

I do not object at all to its being taken without debate, but it is worthwhile to point out that these amendments are largely ones which were proposed by my colleagues in this House which the Minister did not feel able to accept. The fact that those amendments have now been accepted is a vindication of the work of the Seanad, a matter on which some members of the Government might reflect.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

They were not proposed in the House; they were passed over and were only submitted in the Seanad.

The Taoiseach

We will give the Opposition a Christmas present of them.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is it agreed that item No. 2 be taken without debate?

Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with item No. 4 agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal for dealing with No. 5 agreed? Agreed.

Is the proposal with regard to the Christmas recess agreed?

Mr. Dukes

I think the House deserves a little more explanation of this than has been given. We note that the House will adjourn until 30 January 1990 which I gather means that the budget will be on 31 January 1990 which is rather late. I do not think there is precedent for it in recent years, with the exception of 1983 when a Government had just assumed office. I should like to ask if the fact that we are not having the budget until 31 January is an indication of difficulties in the Cabinet, divisions about budgetary policy, or is it simply that the Government just cannot make up their minds?

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick East)): They cannot decide how to spend all the money they have.

The Taoiseach

I do not know whether the Christmas spirit is beginning to affect Deputy Dukes early in the proceedings, but the budget proposed next year will be on the same date as last year.

Mr. Dukes

No, it was 25 January last year.

The Tánaiste

There is serenity over here.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.