Before calling Deputy Martin Kenny on No. 8c, I think clarification is required regarding a promise for a debate on Tesco. Has there been some agreement today about debating it next week?
Business of Dáil
May I ask a question?
A very short question please, not a debate.
I also want to register that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle did not call anyone from our group on the previous business.
Neither did anyone indicate. Let us be clear about it.
Sorry, we indicated-----
I looked at the Member who raised the question.
Hold on.
We indicated as soon as the debate started -----
Hold on. No.
----- but the Leas-Cheann Comhairle had 15 names already, so-----
The one thing of which I cannot be accused is not being impartial in the Chair.
I am not saying that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not impartial.
Nobody indicated.
I am just saying-----
I ask the Deputy to proceed with the question-----
----- in the interest of balance-----
----- and for it to be a short one.
On Tuesday's Order of Business, the House agreed to my proposal that the Business Committee would meet on Tuesday to table a debate on Tesco this week. Not only has there been no report back from the Business Committee to the House, there is clearly no debate on Tesco this week.
I thank the Deputy.
I understand what emerged from the Business Committee meeting is that there would be 48 minutes of Topical Issue debate time given over to Tesco next week, which is not really what was indicated. Tesco is the largest private-sector employer in the country.
I thank the Deputy.
People are being intimidated.
We will get an answer from the Whip.
There is a bit of urgency as well, though.
I know.
Putting this off until next week when it was agreed to have it this week is not acceptable.
The Business Committee met and the Whip will give a response, after which we will move on to the next business.
The House agreed the other day that we would convene a Business Committee meeting to discuss it. The Deputy is correct in that regard. We held a meeting on Tuesday and another this morning. It was agreed that we would give over the entire Topical Issue debate next Tuesday to the various Members of the House who want to discuss or make statements on the situation relating to Tesco. It was also noted this morning that the AAA-PBP member who was at the meeting was in dissent on that particular issue. However, the majority of the people at the Business Committee meeting this morning made a decision and that was-----
We now move to-----
May I make one point?
There will be no debate. We move to No. 8c.
There is an issue here that people agreeing things -----
Sorry, Deputy-----
May I just say one sentence?
I gave the Deputy the opportunity to raise the matter. I call Deputy Martin Kenny.
People agreeing things in the House and then going behind closed doors and "unagreeing" them is not acceptable.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----
The Whip is not willing to allow a debate on Tesco this week when people are being intimidated by the employer.
First, nothing was agreed in the House other than to hold the meeting. The problem with the Deputy is that she does not like the mandate of those who sit around the table. We agreed this morning what we would do next week. Only one member dissented and it was the AAA-PBP representative.
That concludes the matter. I call Deputy Martin Kenny.
However, it was agreed in the House that there would be a debate. It is not for the Whip to "unagree" things behind closed doors.