It is proposed to take the motions on education; Nos. 3, 7 and 9.
Order of Business.
I should like to ask the Leader of the House whether it is proposed to sit tomorrow to continue the motions and when it is proposed to conclude the debate.
It is proposed to sit tomorrow at 10.30 a.m., to conclude not later than 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon and to let in those who are replying on behalf of the two motions tomorrow afternoon.
Just one minor point here. May I take it that there will be three replies, as it were; one on behalf of the amendment, one on behalf of the Fine Gael motion, and one on behalf of the original motion? It might be appropriate if the replies commenced at, say, 2.30 p.m., in which case we would not run very much past 5 o'clock.
I understand Senator Quinlan wants an hour to reply and Senator Garret FitzGerald an hour and a half, so that if Senator FitzGerald were allowed in at 2.30 p.m. and Senator Quinlan at 4 o'clock——
We are quite agreeable to that.
I do not know whether Senator Jessop wants an opportunity to reply.
No, Sir.
Would the Leader of the House tell us when it would be possible to allocate time for discussion of motion No. 6 which has been on the Order Paper a considerable time?
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries has indicated he would be agreeable to come in within the next couple of weeks to deal with that motion. I do not think we will have an opportunity of dealing with it next week because we will have a number of Bills with which to deal but I am hoping it may be possible to fix it for the following week.
Would the Leader of the House look again at the possibility of dealing with it next week because, from the Bills we have on the Order Paper and what we are likely to get, it would appear we could do the Bills next week in a day and we could devote the second day to starting on this motion?
I shall see if that is possible.
Anyway, at the latest, it would be in a fortnight.
I would hope so; I cannot guarantee that, but probably in a fortnight.
Do I take it from the Leader of the House that he will try to make time available next week but, as far as it lies within his power, he is assuring the House it will be within a fortnight?
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries said he was agreeable, in principle, to take this motion within the next few weeks. I have not found out whether he will be definitely available this day fortnight, but it will be either this day fortnight or, possibly, next week; or, if not, within the next three weeks, whichever of those three Wednesdays or Thursdays is suitable for the Minister.
Will the Senator try to keep quiet in the meantime?