Will the Chair indicate whether the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will be coming before the House to take my matter?
Adjournment Debate.
Perhaps the Deputy could wait a minute or two to give the Minister an opportunity to arrive.
I seek the advice of the Chair on whether I should proceed. It is pointless my speaking on this matter if the Minister is not present. This is an important issue and, if appropriate, I will wait for the Minister to arrive before proceeding.
We will wait for the Minister.
If Deputies Broughan or Gilmore were present we could proceed with their matters. I will take Deputy Stanton's matter if I am provided with a script.
Acting Chairman
We cannot wait indefinitely. Perhaps the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government will take the matter and the reply might arrive while Deputy Stanton is making his contribution.
With respect, I have a number of important points to make. Is it appropriate to do so if the Minister who is responsible and who has been briefed on this matter is not present? Possibly he is working on his reply to this matter, which is very important to farmers and the beef industry.
I regret what has happened. I am due to take one matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, and another for which I am responsible. I have just heard that a matter involving agriculture was to be taken before those with which I am supposed to deal and I do not have in my possession a reply to that matter. I was about to suggest that we proceed with the two matters to which I am supposed to reply but it is not possible to do so because the Deputies who raised them are not in the House.
Acting Chairman
If we cannot proceed, we will be obliged to adjourn.
This is most unsatisfactory.
Perhaps we could suspend for five minutes.
Acting Chairman
We are on the Adjournment and, therefore, we cannot suspend the sitting.
This is not a satisfactory situation and I apologise to Deputy Stanton on behalf of the Government. This difficulty, which is not unprecedented, should not have arisen.
Acting Chairman
Deputies Gilmore and Broughan have arrived. Perhaps we can take their matters first.
I am prepared to co-operate in any way with the Chair. However, I am disappointed the Minister has not seen fit to come before the House or to supply a script.
Acting Chairman
We shall proceed with the other matters and perhaps the Minister will have arrived by the time they have concluded.